Source Of Hope

I love your instructions. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

Psalm 119:113-114

Reading The One Year Bible has been a source of hope for me for the last ten years. My heart is being softened and my conscience pricked as God’s Word reframes my earthly perspectives with His eternal hope.

It is not the structured reading plan that has been my source of hope, but God’s actual words from the pages—moving through my mind, into my heart, affecting my choices. His Word speaks hope on a daily basis. I must confess, when Christian women tell me they have no hope, I carefully try to find out how much they are hearing God’s voice through His Word over the voices of this despairing world.

God gives us hope like no other. We need to feast on what He says in the Bible. We cannot get hope at the frozen yogurt store. We cannot buy hope at the mall; it’s not a special TV offer either! We cannot whip it up in our own kitchens. God is the source of hope and love and joy and peace and comfort—all the things you and I crave every day.

I have never heard God’s voice audibly, but when I read His promises and see His perfect character and unconditional love throughout Scripture, I am encouraged for whatever is going on in my life. Every day, when we are by ourselves in the quietness of our homes, cars, offices, or vacation spots, may we open the Bible and hear His voice above the clamoring noise of the world. If we ever doubt the benefits of poring over God’s Word, Psalm 119 can reaffirm its value. This longest psalm of the Bible has so much to say.

Let’s help each other find a simple plan for a daily intake of hope through God’s Word. You may prefer to pick a specific book of the Bible (the Gospel of John is a good place to start) and read through it over a few days, or you may choose a couple of chapters from the Old Testament and a couple from the New Testament each day. Maybe you can find a Bible study for accountability and structured teaching. Whatever your style, God’s Word will fit.

Arrange each day to include a set time to read His Word and gain strength from the voice of God, the only Source of true hope.