The Lord is our hope!

"Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope..." Psalm 119:49

With all that face us each day it is to Your word that we cling, it is that which quickens us. Let's look at some verses of Scripture that tells us of the spiritual hope that we have and its affects.
"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 5:5

It was spiritual hope that enabled Abraham to become the father of those who would believe, "In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, 'So shall your descendants be.'" Romans 4:18

The Scriptures are a source of this hope, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4

Believers are to be prepared to give testimony to this hope we have in us, "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you..." 1 Peter 3:15

Spiritual hope inspires the Believer unto purity, "And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3

Our hope is an eternal hope that anticipates Christ's coming:
"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." Titus 2:13

It is an eternal hope that is a sure anchor for the soul of the Believer, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil." Hebrews 6:19

Gloriously this hope is grounded in the resurrection of our Savior, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

I came across this quote of Charles Stanley just this week and felt it was apropos to today's message:
"Hope can be defined as the desire for something good and the expectation of receiving it. Jesus Christ is the only genuine source of hope, because He alone knows what is best and has the sovereignty and power to secure its fulfillment. All other hopes are grounded on the shifting sands of circumstances beyond our control."

As the song says, "Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness..." Hope and comfort are ours in Christ Jesus our Lord!
So with grateful and joyful hearts we say thank you!
And together let us glorify the Lord with songs of praise for He is worthy, oh so worthy, of all honor and praise now and forever.  Amen