I’ve shared two of my biggest secret-hope-restorers with you thus far: 1)counting & naming my blessings consistently and 2)Scripture memory.
Today I want to share another of my favorites for restoring hope.
I shared with you how vital God’s Word is to our hope, our peace, our joy. But, digging in even deeper is my other secret weapon: the book of Psalms. I have spent the past several years praying one psalm per day. The Lord has grown in my heart such a love for these psalms, these songs, these prayers. Right in the heart of God’s Word is the ultimate prayer guide.
{You can find lots of posts on praying the Psalms here.}
I thought I would share a few simple examples just to get you thinking along the lines of praying the Psalms.
Lord God, you tell me in Your Word that the blessed man is the one who takes delight in the law of the Lord, that on that law he meditates day and night. May I be like the blessed man in Psalm 1. May my delight come from You and Your Word, from You alone. Help me to meditate on Your Word day and night. Then, you tell me, I am blessed. {taken from Psalm 1.}
Father God, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth. When I consider the heavens, the earth, all of Your glory all around me, I cannot help but think, who am I that you would love me? Who am I that you are mindful of me? But, You are. Thank You, Lord, for being mindful of me. How majestic is Your Name in all the earth! I praise You! {taken from Psalm 8.}
Lord, You are my shepherd, I have everything I need because of you. You give me rest in green pastures, you lead me beside quiet waters, you restore me!! You guide me on the path of righteousness. Even though I walk through dark days, I will fear no evil because You are always with me! Surely goodness and mercy will be with me always – because of You!! Thank You, Lord Jesus. {taken from Psalm 23.}
Restoring hope is possible, friend! Do not lose heart! Create your gratitude list, dig in and memorize God’s Word, pray the Psalms…do those things as often and frequently as you can! While you are in times of despair, don’t let God’s Word be allocated to your morning routine, let it fill your day. I promise, God still speaks and comforts and encourages through His Word, even in the year 2019.
There is a passage that I want to share with you today that is also a great one to memorize. In fact, I would not be surprised if you already have it memorized because it is so popular that it has almost become cliché. But, don’t stop reading.
If you’ve had this verse memorized for years and years and years, before you recite it quickly in your mind, can you recall the word HOPE being in this verse?? Maybe not. That little tiny word is kind of overlooked at times when someone is mentioning this verse.
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
But, don’t stop there, friends! Go on, read the next part of that passage!!
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13
The Lord declared to Jeremiah that He not only had plans for him, but that he had a plan to give him hope!! If that doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will!! The Lord has planned and purposed to give me hope. And, when He gives us that hope…it gives us the courage to call upon Him, to come and pray to Him, and He listens to us!!
You know what that is?? A cycle…we cry out to Him, He gives us hope, He makes our hearts desire to call on Him and pray to Him even more!! God is so gracious!!
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