Encouragement and Hope

Day 12:

Despite having an off the wall dream, my night was pretty good. I was excited about a friend coming into town the next morning (today). I had so much planned for day. Lots of surprises. After I picked my friend up from our mutual friend's house. We went to my dad's and started our baking fiasco. We started cooking the chili, which was a total surprise to my dad. We also made homemade ice cream sandwiches from Oreo cookie pop-tarts and Oreo cookie ice cream and peanut butter cup chocolate cookies. They were both a big hit at the women's night event tonight. It made me super happy, a total mood booster.

Tonight, the main devotion was about hope. We discussed Romans 5:1-11 (ESV).

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and werejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, andhope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For ifwhile we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 These verses discuss how hope is a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. Such a good topic since I have been discouraged this week and having not so great dreams.

She also included my all time favorite scripture, which is Isaiah 40:30-31(ESV).

Even youths shall faint and be weary, 

and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 

they shall run and not be weary; 

they shall walk and not faint.

I just love this promise and I also love eagles! God is so great. So in my other post I mentioned that I was thankful for Godly men in my life. I had texted them and they will be praying over me on Sunday night. I am so grateful. One of those men, gave me some scripture to review. I thought they were very encouraging, so I will add them in this post.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4.4 (ESV) 

 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16.33 (ESV)

I found these encouraging because they are truths I have been needing to hear.God is so good! Sometimes He has to talk through people we look up to, to better encourage us.

Lord,

I praise you for this day. I am so thankful for my friends. You have given me a good bunch to hangout with. I want to thank you for giving my friend from Flint the opportunity to come over, bake and hangout with us. Thank you for giving me energy to completes today's tasks. I love you so much. Thank you for giving people the words to encourage me and give me hope. I pray that my friends continue to stay encouraged as big decisions are being made for you this weekend. I am so excited for the things you have planned. Please remind me to be patient and not get easily discouraged this coming weekend and week ahead. I pray all these things in your name.

Amen.