A Revival of Hope
I GREW UP singing, I’m possessed of a HOPE that is steadfast and sure, since Jesus came into my heart. Well, let me tell you, that hope has remained with me through over fifty years of knowing the Lord. In fact—it’s more sure now than ever it was when I was young. Come on with us now and let us see the hope of us all as it becomes even more sure and steadfast as we approach the end.
THE PURE HOPE OF GOD’S KINGDOM FINDS ITS RELEASE IN US BY THE GRACE OF GOD. It is often born in us out of the rubble of ruin, giving it the touch of supernatural power. Because of this, it becomes a hope that endures to the end.
DAY 1—In the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus we find a regeneration of HOPE.
Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without HOPE.
I Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
LORD, each day my hope has grown weaker. The expectation I once held toward people in the church has failed. There seems little left in which to place my trust. In this state I present myself to You. Oh, let the power of Your resurrection come over on my damaged hope!
We can place our hope in the faithfulness of God—Psalm 89:1,2; Hebrews 10:23
DAY 2—The Lord is enabling us to find healing for our damaged HOPE.
Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that HOPE in the LORD.
Psalm 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my HOPE is in Thee.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
DEAR LORD, the hope of my heart grew weak through the trial upon me. But, I have made a decided turn toward your merciful offer of help. I am ready now to rest in the grace and peace You have brought into my life. Please settle me in this.
Even through His suffering, death and burial, the Lord Jesus maintained HOPE—Ps 22:9-28
DAY 3—Our HOPE finds its rest in God’s mercy.
Psalm 33:18-20,22 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that HOPE in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield.... Let thy mercy, O LORD be upon us according as we HOPE in thee.
LORD, once I felt I did not deserve Your grace and peace. Because of this, fear stayed with me. But now, I have placed my hope in Your mercy, and in Your faithful Word. You delivered me and You are keeping me, not because I am good but because You delight in mercy. Let that mercy flood my life. Now, let it come over on these whose names I am calling before You.
The mercy of God remains upon us because of His Covenant promise
—Mic 7:18-20; Ps 103:10,11
GOD’S MEN OF OLD POINTED US TO THE HOPE THAT WOULD BE OURS WHO TRUST THE LORD JESUS. They didn’t see all we are seeing, but their hope was steadfast because they also trusted the Lord in their day.
DAY 4—We can learn from Abraham, our first example of a man who found HOPE.
Romans 4:16b,18,19a,20 Abraham: who is the father of us all…against HOPE believed in HOPE, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith…He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God...
FATHER, I reach for you through the impossibilities that have crowded in on my life. I lay before You the mocking weakness of my emotions. I dare to have hope as Abraham did. Draw these I hold before You into this same hope. Help us arise from our weakness, and trust You. By Your Spirit release in us a hope that is sure.
The hope born of God’s Spirit reaches through impossibilities—Gen 15:1-6; Rom 4:19-21
DAY 5—David, both King and Prophet, saw the HOPE of Christ’s Resurrection.
Ps 16:8-ha I have set the LORD always before Me: because He is at My right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in HOPE. For thou wilt not leave My soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou will show Me the path of life...
LORD, my hope came under test. For days it seemed to vanish from me. I was left with no expected end but the grave. Oh! But now my feeble hope has reached beyond the grave to embrace Your faithful love—both for myself and these that I love.
Drawing on God’s Word to David, Peter saw that the hope born out of Christ’s Resurrection reaches all who will repent and believe
—Acts 2:29-39
DAY 6—Even when our HOPE grows weak, God stands ready to revive its power in us.
Psalm 31:22,24 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Thine eyes: nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto Thee. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that HOPE in the LORD.
LORD, I praise You for Your mercy toward me. Thank You for receiving me even when I did not deserve Your love. Oh, let the HOPE of Your mercy come on these I now present before Your Throne! Let rejoicing come over upon them. Make them stable in HOPE.
We declare our HOPE so the generation to come may be secure in their HOPE—Ps 78:2-7
DAY 7—An old man who trusted God from his youth laid hold on a HOPE that endures.
Psalm 71:2-5 Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline Thine ear unto me, and save me. Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; for Thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou art my HOPE O Lord GOD: Thou art my trust from my youth.
LORD, I have known You since my youth. You have held me through more trials than I can number. I praise You for Your enduring faithfulness. I now hold these young ones before You. Work in them to make them firm in their HOPE for the awesome days ahead.
An admonition to young believers—I Tim 4:12-16
DAY 8—God’s Word makes our HOPE firm.
Ps 119:49 Remember the Word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to HOPE.
:81 My soul fainteth for Thy salvation: but I HOPE in Thy Word.
:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I HOPE in Thy Word.
FATHER, give me renewed hunger for Your Word. Let the HOPE of its truth run through all my days— along every path—in every encounter with others. Even in my darkest hour, I look to Your Word to sustain me. Increase in my family a love for Your Word so their HOPE will remain steadfast.
As we wait before the Lord, our HOPE comes to be in His Word—Ps 130:1-8
DAY 9—God takes pleasure in those who HOPE in His mercy.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose HOPE is in the LORD his God.
Ps 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that HOPE in His mercy.
LORD, I have no HOPE but for Your mercy that has received me. These I hold before You have no HOPE unless You show Your mercy to them. Oh, receive them in Your love. Place in them a desire for Your ways.
Enoch walked as a man pleasing to the Lord, and God took him—Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5
FROM PAUL WE LEARN IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BUILDS UP HOPE IN US. Discovering the mercy and grace released in Christ’s Resurrection opens the way for us to have a HOPE in which we can rejoice all the way to our end.
DAY 10—The accounts of God’s faithfulness in the Old Testament give us hope for today.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have HOPE.
Psalm 78:5,7 For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a Law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: ... That they might set their HOPE in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments:
DEAR LORD, thank You for enabling me to believe when there seemed to be so little hope. I had no way to come before You and stand unless I could find Your grace. So You reached me and pulled me right in unto Yourself. Hold me there while my hope grows strong.
The God of HOPE will fill us who are Gentiles with joy and peace in believing
—Rom 15:12-14
DAY 11—When we find our place in God’s grace, we can rejoice in HOPE.
Romans 5:1,2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in HOPE of the glory of God [“we joyfully look forward to all God has in store for us.”]
DEAR LORD, thank You for enabling me to believe when there seemed to be so little hope. I had no way to come before You and stand unless I could find Your grace. So You reached me and pulled me right into Your heart. Hold me there while my hope grows strong.
If we hold to our confidence in Christ, our HOPE will remain steadfast until the end—Heb 3:5-14
DAY 12—The HOPE made alive in us by God’s faithful love will never disappoint us.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience. experience; and experience, HOPE: and HOPE maketh not ashamed [does not disgrace or disappoint us]; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
GRACIOUS LORD, thank you for everything that has worked in my life to strengthen my hope, even the difficult things. Sanctify these things we are facing. Make them holy to us so they will strengthen our hope. Work in these I love and am holding before You so their hope will grow strong.
DAY 13—HOPE releases in us a steadfast patience to trust God even when we cannot see.
Romans 8:24,25 For we are saved by HOPE: but HOPE that is seen is not HOPE: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet HOPE for? But if we HOPE for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
DEAR LORD, You are teaching me to trust You even when I cannot see the end to which my faith is reaching. Thank You for making the hope in us strong enough to endure this trial that is upon us now. Work in these others who are undergoing a testing of their faith. Let their hope and trust become very firm.
God watches over those who hope in His mercy—Ps 33:16-22
DAY 14—God’s Grace teaches us to become ready for the HOPE of Christ’s appearing.
Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
DEAR FATHER, I praise You for the hope You have given us that Christ Jesus will appear again to reign on earth. Oh, make our hearts steadfast in believing for this time. Give us the grace to prepare for the day of His appearing that we shall not be ashamed.
Our HOPE in the Lord is confirmed by His Promise and His Oath to Abraham—Heb 6:17-20
A HOPE THAT IS STEADFAST AND SURE WILL CAUSE US TO PRESENT OUR LIVES CLEAN AND PURE BEFORE THE LORD. A weak hope will leave our sanctification weak.
DAY 15—Christ will present us unblameable before His Father if we be not moved away from the HOPE of the Gospel.
Colossians 1:21-23a And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the HOPE of the Gospel...
FATHER, what grace You have shown me! Thank You for the hope You have placed in my heart. Thank You for working in me to make my hope a sure and settled thing. Now, here are these people I love dearly but whose hope is unsure. Oh, please draw them into Your grace like Your drew me in!
We need have no shame in giving a testimony—II Tim 1:6-12
DAY 16—A sure HOPE in the Lord gives us a sure testimony before the world.
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the HOPE that is in you with meekness and fear.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
FATHER, please work in me so I will never have to be ashamed to give a testimony about Your grace and power. Help me bear a good testimony today about the hope You have given me. May my word be something more than a religious statement. Let it be something so real that even the ungodly can see the reality of the love about which I testify.
Those who belong to the Day have a helmet of salvation for their HOPE—I Thes 5:6-9
DAY 17—All who hold the HOPE that comes from Christ’s Resurrection purify themselves.
I John 3:2,3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this HOPE in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
DEAR LORD, I’m so glad I know that I know You. My life is changing daily. My expectation grows with an ever-increasing HOPE. This is bringing a stability to me that does not waver in the face of trial. Please bring this steadfast HOPE over on these I name.
—II Cor 1:3-7
DAY 18—Those whose HOPE is in the Lord will find provision in calamity.
Jeremiah 17:7,8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose HOPE the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
LORD, You are my hope, the strength of my life, my light, my joy and my peace. Out of a relationship with You I find my purpose for being. Here are these I now hold before You. Move in their hearts to bring them into Your bosom. Let them know the hope You give.
Happiness will come to those whose HOPE is in the Lord God—Ps 146:5-10
EVEN IN THE DARKEST HOUR HOPE WILL SPRING FORTH LIKE A LIVING WELL. This is because HOPE is born of God’s Spirit.
DAY 19—God’s mercy will release HOPE in us even in life’s darkest hours.
Lam 3:22-24 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I HOPE in Him.
DEAR LORD, I celebrate Your faithfulness. I find strength and HOPE became of Your compassion—both to me and to these I love. Oh, gracious Lover of our souls, draw these as I am hold them before Your Throne! Show them how You love them.
It is good to both HOPE and quietly wait for the Lord—Lam 3: 25-32
DAY 20—Even in desperate trouble HOPE comes to those who trust in the Lord.
Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her [“unto her heart”]. And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the Valley of Achor [“the Valley of Trouble”] for a door [“for an entrance”] of HOPE: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
LORD, trouble is all around us. Little HOPE can be seen. But, now we are ready to listen to You. Speak to our hearts and let us see the door of HOPE You are opening. Draw these whose names I call before You. In their trouble let them hear Your alluring voice.
In the last Day the Lord will be the HOPE of His people—Joel 3:13-17
DAY 21—In the place of most desperate trouble HOPE comes to those who trust the Lord.
Zech 9:9,12 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.... Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of HOPE: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.
FATHER, You are our Strong Hold! I am holding these dear ones before You. Because of their rebellion they have lost their HOPE. Deceit has taken them prisoners. I now call their names before Your Throne, pleading for their deliverance and restoration.
We who know the Lord and His Kingdom can speak release to the prisoners
—Is 49:8-10; 61:1-3
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Berean Ministries
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Elk Park, NC 28622-0038
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