Just a Little Time for Hope

– June 2, 2017 – 

How much time do we spend hoping and wishing?
How much time do we spend planning and giving thanks?

Most people I have met over the years, including myself, spend more time on the first question than on the second. Would you agree? The problem is, that hoping and wishing are usually empty thoughts that stem from lack of worthiness or possibility.

Worthiness and lack of possibility are wishes without action. God likes action! Too many people wait for something to happen and then figure out their reaction with passive wishing. What could be worth more than eternal life with God? Don’t we know with certainty that “with God all things are possible?” This scripture is about eternal salvation.

God likes action, right? “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:24-25).

Perseverance is the action. That action then becomes faith. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Assurance comes from God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6).

“Fifteen minutes a day adds up to 91 hours a year,” said Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president of Harvard University one hundred years ago. 91 hours is one whole semester for our kids.

If we spend fifteen minutes per day with God, and fifteen minutes per day setting goals and planning, what could that amount of action be worth? Not just in this life, but eternity? Blessing to you my faithful friend 🙂

(Photos of Our Daily Bread daily devotionals)