25th. April. 2022. Daily Devotion.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour. Titus 1:1-3
Every spring my husband and I would plant a garden. My husband would till the ground, pulling up weeds and loosening the soil. I would plant the seeds and do some watering with the hose; however, nothing feeds plants better than rain. So, we would hope for just enough rain and sunshine, to produce wonderful summer vegetables. We never had a guarantee that conditions would cooperate to give us a bounty, but we did all we could, and then we would wait and hope.
The hope that a Christian has is much different. It is not wishful thinking, but an inward knowledge of peace, given by God when we trust in Him. We have the written word, but we also have an indwelling of the Holy Spirit that assures us of our eternity.
We have a God of truth, who tells us of a way, paved for us to eternal life with Him. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can stand by the grace of His love and rejoice in our hope of the glory of God. The power of the Holy Spirit helps us to abound in that hope. We do not have to sit on our knowledge of wishful thinking but know without a shadow of a doubt that God is in us, and we in Him.
“Hope obtained – pardoned eternally” is my acronym for the word HOPE. We must plant our seeds of hope in the garden of this world. People need to hear the truth. People are longing for the truth. When we cultivate and tend this garden, God will produce an abundance, so that hopelessness, despair, doubt and fear will decrease, as faith, hope, and love will increase. ~ Jenny Calvert
Thank you oh God, for bringing us hope in your truthful Word. Amen
Thanks for the Gifts of This Life
O God, I thank You for this day of life for eyes to see the sky for ears to hear the birds for feet to walk amidst the trees for hands to pick the flowers from the earth for a sense of smell to breathe in the sweet perfumes of nature for a mind to think about and appreciate the magic of everyday miracles for a spirit to swell in joy at Your mighty presence everywhere. Amen. ~ Marian Wright Edelman
An Intercessory Prayer
You call us to speak to you in prayer– even when the places we would usually go to are not available.
Help us to know you Spirit’s presence wherever we pray.
Today we especially pray for those who are living in fear – give them your strength.
For those who have not yet realised the urgency of the situation – protect them, and all of us from harm.
Today I especially want to pray for …….
In the name of Jesus. Amen