Hope and Faith
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1Thessalonians 5:8
Put on hope daily — Put on faith daily.
On our own, and in our own strength, we cannot face every trial and struggle that comes to us. We can try, but eventually we will stumble, our faith will wear thin, and our flesh will rise and act in ways not pleasing to God. But when we have God’s hope—the hope of heaven, the hope of Jesus coming again, the hope of His promises to us—His spirit, His fruit and His love, we have the opportunity to choose hope instead of discouragement and put on faith instead of fear. It is a mindset, a shift in our thought patterns and our actions.
When reading the verse above, I saw in my mind the picture of putting on my hope and faith today just like I would put on a soft, comfy, pretty dress. It covers me, protects me, comforts me, and makes me feel special. I need to be connected with God through my personal relationship with Him before I can put on this garment of hope and faith. I need Him, and He delights when I spend time with Him.
Psalm 147:11 says, “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
God is our hope. With God, all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26) With God, there is a reason to have hope in any situation. With God, there is a reason to have faith in any situation. Faith is the sail that keeps me moving in the direction and path that is good and pleasing to Him. Faith sees opportunities that can open doors, move mountains and encourage us when we don’t have all the answers. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
My prayer for you reading this today is that you will be encouraged and strengthened in your own life today, that you will take time to sit at the feet of Jesus and be renewed, and that you will put on hope and faith today, and smile! You are precious in His sight just as you are, and He can be your joy!
Lord, thank You for reminding me today how precious hope and faith are to me and that YOU are the reason for them. Amen.
Beautiful reminder.Thank you.
I really appreciate the analogy of faith to a sail. It reminds me of the eagle’s wings in Isaiah 40:31… I once sensed that it is faith that allows us to soar. A sail is so similar! I’m meeting a friend for games later today, and we had already chosen a game, Rails to Sails…. God is so good to keep this reminder of His Word fresh in my mind. Thank you for sharing!