March's Word: Hope

I am enjoying picking a new word each month this year. It feels more personal and I know that I am improving with my attitude. This way of focusing is so much better than a word for the year.

In January I focused on TRUST.

In February I focused on SURRENDER.

This month I will focus on HOPE.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials." ~1 Peter 1:3-6

Wow. Let me pull out some of the words that hit me like a truck.

...a living hope through the resurrection...

...an inheritance that is imperishable, undelfiled, and, unfading...

...kept heaven for you, who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith...

...for a little while you may have to suffer...

Yes!!  Jesus Christ is a the living hope. He is not dead. He is alive and his resurrection is alive in us. In that resurrection, we have an inheritance that WE CANNOT TARNISH. Our sins and despair will not destroy what He gained for us. You hear that?  It is ours and it is perfect. Even better?  God has our back. He is keeping us safe. That's right. The POWER OF GOD is safeguarding us and our inheritance. For this little bit of time we are the church militant here on earth, we may have to undergo a little bit of suffering, but then we have all of eternity in heaven. Hope. Oh, I have never felt you so strongly before. God gives us new life and hope in baptism. The glory of the fullness of salvation is still ahead for me. My race is not done and I am enduring these trials only for a little while. My gold medal is in heaven, waiting for me.