Hope in the New Day

Why Is Hope Important?

Passover, the start of a new day in our lives, has recently come and gone. It has refocused us on our redemption; the creating of a new being within us equipped with the blessings to do God’s will…

We discovered hope. Hope that God’s blessings and promises are ours.

This renewed hope is important, because Passover and the Counting of the Omer—the 50 days following Passover—has us examining ourselves, changing our ways, and stepping into the new day.

Hope acts as a tool. It primes us to live expectantly.

Hope is mentioned 151 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.

Since nothing in God’s Word is without purpose, surely, we should take heed…

For hope not only feeds faith, it brings life!

As Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

Hope acts as a ballast for our foundation. When the storms of life come, it keeps us stable.

1 Corinthians 13:13 takes this importance even further, giving hope as one of three vital things for our lives: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

So, while love is the greatest of these, it does not demote faith or hope. For love puts us in place to have faith, and faith to have hope. They are all connected… and when they work together there is power!

Hope in the New Day:

Every year we enter into a new cycle. A new season and day for our lives. There may be some years when the season is more drastic a change than others, yet, no matter how big or small the season may be, hope is a preparatory tool.

Hope assists us to expect what God has promised.

It helps us to enter into prayer expecting God to answer; hoping for a future—living in expectation.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has planned beautiful things for us, and because of that, because of who He is, we should hope.

Yet, what does hope do for us as we walk through each day? How does it prepare us for the new day?

Well, hope:

• Restores faith
• Causes us to expect and live expectantly
• Brings Godly joy
• Helps us see as God does
• Opens our heart to Godly blessings
• Brings life
• Reminds us of the future God has planned
• Refocuses us on our heritage
• Places our restored faith in Godly things
• Reminds us of the forgiveness and redemption granted by our God
• Sets our sight on things above, not things below
• Brings rest and Godly peace
• Chases away fear and doubt
• Brings strength to the body and soul
• Reminds us of God’s mercy
• Gives us drive—motivation toward His purposes
• Reminds us of our purpose in HIM
• Restores us to who we are in Him
• Sets us in place to love, know faith, and to step into our new day…

Hope is a cornerstone. If we do not hope that God will even listen, let alone answer us, then why would we follow Him? If we do not hope that He will show us mercy and cover our sins in His perfect blood, then, again, why would we follow Him? We would be lost without God listening, answering, and covering our iniquity with His blood. Without His mercy we would have no hope.

Yet, WE DO hope in those things. In His mercy, in His listening to us and answering our prayers… to His loving us no matter what… WE DO place our hope in Him alone. And as a result, we are blessed!

Our faith is restored and we can walk into the new day with perfect peace.

We can have the strength and focus needed to go higher; to answer the call of this day, living wholly for Him.

“For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.”—Psalm 38:15

The Word and Hope:

Given that the New Kings James Version of the Bible contains the word “hope” 151 times, there is certainly an importance.

Some mentions of the word are teaching and insights on hope, others on the hope lost or found of certain individuals/peoples, others, proclaiming and prophesying the presence of hope.

Of these, many, many verses speaking on hope say, “I hope in You,” “my hope is in You,” “hope in Him,” or something similar. We are reminded from the Old to the New Testament to place our hope in Him—to hope at all cost because it is connected to faith, love, blessings, joy, and so many other beautiful gifts of God.

Whenever scripture is repeated like that, or even further, such as with Psalm 42:11 and 43:5, God is placing a special emphasis upon the message, seeking that we might understand.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”—Psalm 42:11 and Psalm 43:5

While faith is not a feeling, hope has a certain connection—not always directly—with feelings…

Remember how Proverbs 13:12 speaks of hope being a tree of life… and how the delay or deferring of it makes the heart sick?

Well, the heart is a portion of the soul—our mind, will, and emotions. When the heart is sick it is difficult for us to see the love of God; His grace and mercy for us. It is difficult to know the joy of the Lord because a portion of our soul is sick.

Yes, we can have hope when we are saddened—which is why the connection to feelings is not always direct—yet, we cannot despair when we hope. We see the hope of our future; the new day. We know that God will provide and love us no matter what… and with that knowledge and hope, it is difficult to dwell in sadness. There is always a hidden joy when we hope—no matter the loss or pain we might know.

Living in Hope:

The Word shows that hope is a vital thing… that its truest form is found in God. Placing our hope in Him provides the greatest return on investment.

Hope is a bringer of life, a positioner of our lives, and of course, a teacher and reminder of who God is…

He is a good God who promises us a future and a hope, because the thoughts He thinks toward us are those of goodness, mercy, and love. God, the giver and maker of all, HAS redeemed us!

That redemption brings life and a beautiful future, both on earth and in Heaven. It is reason enough to hope.

Yet, even with the promise of hope, daily blessings and provisions are promised to us as well. Everything we require to answer the call God has placed on our lives is ours if we are willing and position ourselves to receive.

We are meant to live in hope. Not only to show God’s love and life through us, but so that we might live, and live in expectation!

The expectation of God’s promises in every aspect of our lives.

 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”—Psalm 119:114

“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.”—Psalm 130:7