Door of Hope

Hosea was a prophet in the Old Testament. God commanded him to marry a prostitute named Gomer. After they married, she was unfaithful to Hosea. Her life represented the nation of Israel. Israel showed her unfaithfulness to Jehovah by running after other gods. And Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea so the Lord told Hosea to separate from the woman. Gomer experienced shame from her disobedience. The Lord told Hosea to seek her out again and to love her. This was likened to His love and commitment to Israel. But the Lord gave her a promise through Hosea, and the Lord offers that same promise to us.

The Lord said, “There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make Anchor a door of hope.” Hosea 2:15 NIV.  Here the word vineyards represents abundance and fruitfulness. The Hebrew word for Anchor means trouble. We could write the verse as, “There I will give her back her abundance and fruitfulness and make Trouble a door of hope.”

If we turn away from the Lord, we will experience lack. This is especially true spiritually. Disobedience breeds spiritual lack or thinness of soul. If we walk away from our Creator, we will experience shame. Turning away from the Lord can also affect us physically, relationally, emotionally and financially. But God is married to the backslider (Jeremiah 3:14). He loves us even if we walk away. However, He always calls us back into a vibrant relationship with Himself.

When a person walks away from the Lord, he or she experiences darkness and trouble. But the Lord calls them home. He offers them a door of hope in exchange for their trouble.

If you examine your heart and find that your relationship with the Lord is not as it should be, turn back to the Father. He loves you, and He will treat you with compassion. Allow Him to turn your trouble into a door of hope.

Here is a prayer that will lead you back to the Lord if you’ve strayed…

Dear Father God,

I am not where I should be spiritually. I have walked away from you and I am sorry. Forgive me for my sins and make me clean. I surrender to you, and I declare that You are my Lord and Savior. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me and thank you that He is risen. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

The Highest Praise

Don’t give gratitude

Only when you’re in the mood

Don’t give thanks and praise

Only with hands raised

 

Go about your day praising and singing

Lift up your voice, keep it ringing

 

Give thanks in every circumstance

Not for the trials that land

Give thanks in every circumstance

Don’t leave it up to chance

 

I am grateful, so grateful

Not just when the blessings flow

But also in the barren times

When I wonder where to go

 

Thank the Lord for who He is

For this is the highest praise

We Won't Bow Down

 Here is an article I wrote for inspireafire, com called We Won't Bow Down. I hope it encourages you.

https://inspireafire.com/38566-2/