Judy Lentz-      GOD OF HOPE

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 

As I age, I find myself worrying more about what the world will be like for my children and my grandchildren.  The newspapers, the news channels and the internet tell us daily about one or more of these frightening events:  identity theft, scams, drug addictions, severe weather conditions like tornados or hurricanes, earthquakes, child abuse, terrorism and genocide, all of which might be far away or right here at home.   It frightens me.  I find myself praying fervently that our children and our grandchildren will not be faced by these scary situations.

Am I alone in being so frightened by all of these possibilities?  I doubt it.  But what I do know is that I can choose to focus on these negative situations or I can choose to focus on the beauty of God’s world, His mercies shown daily, the joy of a newborn baby, the peace of a healed loved one and so many more wonderful events in our lives.  God has blessed me with the presence of the Holy Spirit and I choose to allow him to give me the power of peace because I trust him to watch over me and my loved ones.

 I know he is there no matter what happens.

This knowledge alone allows me to be filled with joy and peace and encourages me to trust in him by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Join me in that knowledge.  My favorite benediction is the one taken from Genesis 31: 49 paraphrased that says:  Go in peace and may the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.

Prayer:  Dear Lord – you are the Lord of the kingdom, you are the power and the glory and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you fill me with hope, joy and peace.  Remind me, when I doubt or when my fears overcome my joy, that you are there to guide me through whatever difficulties I am experiencing showing me that trusting you will give me the hope, joy and peace I seek.  In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.