| Hope - confident expectation of obtaining what you | | | | God allows us to experience unwavering hope as we |
| desire. Steadfast hope - firm belief in obtaining what | | | | become more and more like Christ. Little by little our |
| you confidently expect. Do you want your hope to | | | | hope grows from a seed to a solid oak in Christ. We |
| remain steadfast even though your personal | | | | are able to see personal loss as a negative that God |
| circumstances are constantly changing? If your | | | | allows in our lives to help us become more Christ-like. |
| answer is yes, consider changing your relationship with | | | | No longer is our focus on us. We pray for God's will in |
| Jesus Christ. | | | | situations and trust that His will will be accomplished. |
| Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior takes you from a | | | | Isn't that what Jesus did in the garden of |
| natural life to a supernatural life. Naturally, your hope | | | | Gethsemane? His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow |
| wavers because your expectations may or may not | | | | as he prayed to his Father to take the cup away from |
| be realized. Supernaturally, your hope does not waver | | | | him. But in his final sentence in the prayer he said, "Yet |
| because it is based in Jesus Christ. If you believe He | | | | not as I will, but as you will," he accepted God's will and |
| has overcome the world, stand firm in His power and | | | | arose to carry it out. |
| strength. Do not be overcome by what you see. | | | | Jesus suffered the loss of family, friends, disciples, and |
| You may say, "That's fine for the hereafter, but how | | | | others who wanted to make him king. But his |
| does that apply to me now?" | | | | steadfast hope in God the Father did not waver. |
| Hope that is based in Jesus Christ is watered by | | | | Although he cried out, "My God, my God, why have |
| spiritual growth and revealed through spiritual | | | | you forsaken me?" he refused to come down from |
| transformation in the lives of those who know and | | | | the cross. In God's timing, He gave up his spirit |
| obey God's Word. Not all Christians read or study the | | | | according to God's plan for his life. |
| Bible, obey Scripture, or walk in a manner that is | | | | Jesus' death on the cross opened the door for many |
| pleasing to God. It is no surprise when difficulties arise | | | | to reconcile their relationship with God the Father. Just |
| that their response is similar to those who do not know | | | | as God used Jesus Christ, He is seeking to use |
| Jesus. They have not read or studied the Bible and | | | | Christians to bring others to him. |
| have no spiritual growth in their lives to water the seed | | | | People are watching you. They know if you have |
| of hope planted in their hearts. | | | | changed spiritually. If not, why should they be attracted |
| Christians who choose to read and study the Bible, | | | | to the God you serve? They also know if you are |
| obey Scripture, and walk in a manner pleasing to God | | | | applying Biblical principles to your life. If your response |
| are growing spiritually. Their obedience enables God to | | | | during difficult time is like theirs, what hope are you |
| water the seed of hope planted in their hearts. They | | | | offering them? A godly response is what attracts |
| no longer respond as those who do not know Jesus | | | | others to the God you serve. |
| when difficulties arise in their lives. | | | | Spiritual growth and spiritual transformation are good. |
| Steadfast hope is revealed in spiritual transformation. | | | | Let others see your steadfast hope as you |
| Although it takes us a lifetime to transform spiritually, | | | | accomplish God's will for your life. |