Hopelessness is the cruelest emotion. I felt hopeless once. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Hopelessness is like being in a dark hole. You don’t know how to get out and you don’t care.
If you have ever experienced hopelessness, and you’re still around to tell about it, you understand the inextricable need of all human beings to have HOPE.
We don’t know what may happen tomorrow, but we can be prepared by putting our hope in God today. Consider what God says about hope.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV
“May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:22 NIV
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18 NIV
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
” … we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:18-19 NIV (emphasis mine)
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus … ” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV (emphasis mine)
If the problems of this world are taking a toll on you, turn your eyes on Jesus. This is how we renew our hope.
A True Story About Hanging on to Hope
Alexander Solzhenitsyn knew how to hang on to hope. He was a political prisoner in Russia for many years. Forced to work 12-hour days at hard labor while existing on a starvation diet, he became gravely ill, and the doctor warned he would die.
One afternoon, he stopped working. Even though he knew the guards would beat him severely, he just could not go on any longer.
At that moment, a prisoner, also a follower of Christ, approached him. He had a cane in his hand, and with his cane, he drew a cross in the sand. Solzhenitsyn said when he saw that cross, he remembered the anguish his Savior had taken on for him; and he realized that the cross was where the battle was ultimately won. He got up, went back to work, and survived.
When you hang on to true hope, you can overcome the worst adversity.
(from the Jeremiah Study Bible)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NIV (emphasis mine)
Something to think about: Are you putting up with unbiblical teaching? (Hint: There is plenty of it going around. Can you tell the difference?)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Our teachers of God’s Word are not always to be trusted. In fact, we should not follow any of them unconditionally, for God will call us to account for the use of our understanding. When even our pilot errs, it is necessary for us to follow the chart of the Word of God closely, so we might be able to save the vessel.
C.H. SPURGEON
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 NIV (emphasis mine)
My thoughts: Teaching children in your church is a great way to do this!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22
There are no words I would rather hear from the Lord than “She is a woman after my own heart; she will do everything I want her to do.”
I sought to understand how David did this. How was he able to do everything God wanted him to do? How did he know and do God’s will? How was he so different than others that God would say such a beautiful thing about him?
The answer is found in Psalm 119. David repeatedly proclaims how much he loves God’s Word. Here are a few important verses, but I urge you to read the entire Psalm HERE. Notice that this man whom God called “a man after my own heart” loved and cherished God’s Holy Word.
“I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them.” Psalm 119:46-47
I think David is saying, “I will not be intimidated by anyone’s status. I will speak God’s Truth.”
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” vs. 72
If we want to be a woman (or man) “after God’s own heart”, we must be a lover of His Word. This is how we will do “everything He wants us to do.” There is no other way.
New Age-influenced “Bible teachers” have taught a way to pray called contemplative prayer. This method teaches Christians to have a conversation or dialog with God. They say, “God said this. I said that. Then God said…” etc.
There is nothing in the Bible to back this up. This is New Age mysticism. The Bible is our treasure. Why must we always search for something more? (Read a brief description of contemplative prayer HERE, or an in-depth description HERE.)
If we want to know God’s will, we must read and study the Word of God: the Bible. Then we must obey what it says.
This may not always be easy. Social pressure to go along with the world is tremendous. But the person who does God’s will is the person who knows His Word and obeys it.
“The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
This verse tells me that God’s Word can and should be trusted. It will make even the simple person wise. But contemplative prayer seeks more than what is written in God’s Word. The person engaging in contemplative prayer seeks a supernatural experience. But God’s Word is sufficient.
“Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” Psalm 119:43 NIV
“Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.” vs.53
“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” vs. 125
“Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” vs. 136
“My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.” vs. 139
These proclamations by David reveal his heart, his love for, and his respect for God’s Word. Remember, it is God’s Word that equips you for service.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (emphasis mine)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Somebody wake me up because I must be having a bad dream! This is not the America I have known and loved over the last seven decades!
Satan has unleashed his fury and the Church better wake up. It’s not like we haven’t been warned. The Bible tells us over and over about how Satan works. He is a murderer, a liar, a slanderer, and a deceiver. What we are seeing is a manifestation of Satanic influence and deception.
Gen Z thinks a man can say he’s a woman and you better go along. Approximately 1,000,000 babies are murdered each year by abortion because “that’s not a baby in there“. (Really?) College students support the terrorist organization Hamas. And anti-semitism has exploded around the world.
I believe the days are over when we can go about business as usual, ignoring the evil going on around us.
I am reminded of the days of evil during WWII when the Nazis were murdering Jewish men, women, and children by the millions. How did it ever get to that point? Compare what happened then to what is happening now.
There was a progression of anti-Semitic activity. At first, Jewish shops and businesses were boycotted.
Today, in university after university, protesters are demanding that their schools sever any direct or indirect financial and academic links with Israel, including by divesting from companies with ties to Israel.
The Nazis spewed hate-mongering propaganda.
This is happening today. The world’s biggest social media platforms are not just hosting antisemitic and hateful content, they are promoting it and making it easier to find. The result, researchers say, is fomenting dangerous ideas as antisemitic incidents in the U.S. surge to historic levels. USA Today
Between 1937 and 1939, new anti-Jewish regulations segregated Jews and made daily life very difficult for them. Jews could not attend public schools; go to theaters, cinemas, or vacation resorts; or reside or even walk in certain sections of German cities.
Today at American Ivy League universities, protestors bar Jewish students from going to class.
2024: Statue of George Washington, George Washington University, D.C.
This progressed to the physical destruction of synagogues and Jewish-owned stores, the arrest of Jewish men, the vandalization of homes, and the murder of individuals. My Jewish Learning
This is also happening all over the world today.
The storefront of a Jewish-owned business that was vandalized on Jan. 6, 2024.
2024, Denmark: Protesters vandalized a monument to Jews rescued from the Holocaust.
“Nazi anti-Jewish policy functioned on two primary levels: legal measures to expel the Jews from society and strip them of their rights and property while simultaneously engaging in campaigns of incitement, abuse, terror and violence of varying proportions. There was one goal: to make the Jews leave Germany.” Yad Vashem
Rabbi Elie Buechler, director of OU-LJIC at Columbia/Barnard, told Jewish students at Columbia to leave “as soon as possible” for their own safety until the situation improves.
2024: Pro-Hamas protestors disrupt graduation ceremonies at the University of Michigan
The beginnings of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany are similar to what we see today on American college campuses.
2024: Columbia University USA
During the Holocaust, some Christian heroes emerged like Corrie ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. But very few Christians helped the Jews. Most did nothing.
A wartime decree made “friendliness” toward Jews punishable by imprisonment in a concentration camp. Hiding Jews inside the Reich was risky and difficult. Only a few thousand Jews survived living ‘underground’ or hidden in Nazi Germany. Holocaust Encyclopedia
Eventually, 6 million Jews were murdered in concentration camps throughout Germany.
How will Christians today respond to this unprecedented modern-day anti-Semitism? Are you willing to speak out or will you silently stand by?
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as. yourself.”
To Abraham, God said, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” Genesis 12:3
To Israel, God said, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 14:2
“For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” Romans 9:3-5 (emphasis mine)
“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” Ezekiel 36:24
“He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12
“For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.” Zechariah 2:8-9 (emphasis mine)
A lot is happening that you won’t see on cable news. Please stay informed by going to BeholdIsrael.org to join Amir Tsarfati’s Telegram channel HERE.
Note: Amir Tsarfati is President & Founder of Behold Israel and a Follower of Jesus, Husband • Father • Bible Teacher • Best-selling Author • Conference Speaker • Middle East News Commentator
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Real Christian Women 