Chew on Hope~

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:18-21
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you...

I am having difficulty letting go of the topic of hope because it's just too good.

Last night I made New York strip steak, medium rare. Jorge and Rayray woofed it down like rabid coyotes--as though it were water--no chewing necessary. Yet I savored every little tender morsel. It took me three times as long to eat it. That is how I feel about hope. Hope is something we must purposely chew on. We must willingly embrace it. And our eyes must be opened to it so that we know what it is when we experience it.

Have you or someone you loved ever felt hopeless? Like that needed relief would never come? That God is sending answers for everyone on the planet but you? That things are getting worse and not better? Welcome to the club!!!

I promise you, however, that God is all about giving you a breakthrough--not standing idly by while you have a breakdown.

If your child, or even a complete stranger, were drowning in a pool would you just sit there or do something about it? I think most of us would dive right in. When we yell, "Help! I am drowning!" God dives right in.

I have chatted with many folks, too many, in fact, who are content to waddle along in life purposely excluding God from their lives. And I have met many others who are too proud to ask for help, because you know, they can do everything by themselves. And then there have been a few who did not know that God even desired a personal relationship with them. How personal?

Mark 14:36

"Abba, Father," He said, "everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will."

Jesus had this conversation with His Father right before He was arrested and crucified. And one particular word in this verse really shows us what God wants to be to us. "Abba," literally means "Papa," or "Daddy." Sigh~

As our Papa, He will open the eyes of anyone who needs it. Let's pray.

PRAYER:

Dear Papa, We love You. Open the eyes of our hearts to understand the hope that is ours. Hope for a better today and an even better tomorrow. Hope that You take care of us in this life and in the one to come. (Fill in the blank) particularly needs a mighty revelation from You that You will take care of him/her. In Jesus' name, AMEN~