Yesterday was the Fifth Sunday of Lent. We have nine more days of Lent, if you’re counting. Today’s Psalm poem is one of my favorites, titled Hope. Who doesn’t need to reflect on Hope, especially after the COVID year seemed it’s opposite, a year of concern about our future.
There will always be something clouding hope. Remember the ancient story of Pandora’s box? After every evil and negative thing escaped from her box, what, alone, was left in her keeping? Yes, it was hope.
It’s part of the triad in the Corinthians 13 chapter: faith, hope, love.
Many use it instead of “we pray. . .” or we wish. . .” Instead, we say, “we hope. . .”
When I wrote this particular psalm, I was “hoping” to convince myself that we are never without hope if we live our lives perfectly aligned with Jesus, because He is our hope of salvation, our hope for abundant life in this world and in the next, and the assurance of things seen and unseen. The Psalms are filled with the word hope: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, … Psalm 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
Here is “My Psalm 331Hope”:
MY PSALM 331 HOPE
Almighty God, Merciful Father, Creator of all,
With joy we praise Your Name this day.
When we were lost, sinful, disobedient,
You loved us enough to want us to know You intimately.
You promised to be our God if we became Your children,
And although we stumble and fall, and
Sometimes defy You like mischievous toddlers,
You come to us patiently forgiving us repeatedly
When we follow our own will, neglecting You;
When we err, we stray, we rebel, we turn deaf ears
To Your truth, to Your plan, to Your direction.
Forgive us yet again, bring us back to You,
Raise us up to understand You know what is best
For You made us, You planned for us to be Yours
From before time, and to Your Glory,
You will win the battle for our souls.
As we enter Passion week, we remember the cost.
We can’t fathom the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
He Who knew no sin, He who dwelled with You on High
Became a man so we could become Your children.
He taught us how to live for You
And when we get out of the way and pledge our allegiance
To You, we find the pathway straight and the plains level.
We see atonement, love, hope, peace, and salvation.
We are humbled that You loved us enough to send Jesus,
The Prince of Peace, the Son You love, the Perfect Sacrifice
Who not only conquered life, abundantly,
But conquered death so that we might live eternally.
Everlasting Thanksgiving for bringing us hope,
Not only in this life, but in the life of eternity to come.
We are humbled, we are thankful,
And we bow before Your Presence
For loving us enough to provide a plan for our salvation
And the hope of spending eternity in praise to Your Name.
In the blessed Name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.
I pray that any time despair, worry, anxiety, fear—any or all those negatives cross your mind, that hope in your heart will chase those thoughts away, cleanse you of all the things which keep you from living abundantly, and you can replace those thoughts with the restorative powers of prayer for hope, peace, love, and the sure knowledge that God loves you just as you are because He is just Who he says He is. Not a hair falls from your head without His knowledge, and He knows your life path and your concerns of the day way before You do. He is the “Waymaker,” in this awesome worship song by Leeland.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.