All-Day Hope
A devotional by Malinda Fugate
Key Scripture:
Psalm 25 and Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)
“My hope is in you all day long” wrote David in Psalm 25:5. When we begin our day with this scripture, our optimism might overflow. We can step confidently into whatever could happen in the next 24 hours. Bring it on, world!
Then the world does indeed bring it. Coffee gets spilled, arrival to work is late, and financial obligations resume their continual nagging. Our kids have a crisis, our spouse has needs, and our friends call for assistance.
The demands of the day begin to outnumber available minutes and regret over that spilled coffee sets in as energy levels hit new lows. Some days, the big punches roll in: sickness, tragedy, conflict, chronic pain, deferred dreams, or devastating news headlines. By dinner, the hope of the morning has dissipated into survival mode, and at that moment when bedtime pillows and blankets offer comfort, the biggest miracle might be remembering the bright words of the morning psalm. David possibly couldn’t have imagined this day when he penned those verses.
Yet, David’s God-inspired poetry was composed in the midst of attack and escape, times of joy as well as tribulation. His very life was on the line when he found hope in the Lord. How is this possible? How could hope truly last through an entire day that feels like a raging battle?
God doesn’t hand us a dose of hope and then walk away. He doesn’t expect us to get by on a ration of good feelings. Instead, the Lord is with us every step of the way, renewing that hope with every challenge that attempts to knock us off our feet. His very presence within us provides a never-ending supply of hope all day long.
Those challenges that at first appear to oppress us are actually a classroom where God is strengthening us daily. A closer look at Psalm 25:5 reveals a thoughtful beginning: “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.” Then we reflect on how our hope is in Him all day long. He guides and instructs us, teaching us His right ways. Each day we grow a little stronger, a little smarter, and filled with a little more of His wisdom.
Psalm 25:8 reminds us that “good and upright is the Lord,” while Psalm 25:20 reminds us that He guards our life, rescues us, and offers refuge. Because of His faithfulness, we can trust and rely on Him.
This process of His teaching and our reliance generates lasting hope in a cycle that sustains not just our day, but our weeks, months, and years as well.
In Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV), David continues this theme. He says, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”
Scripture is full of promises of hope for God’s children, but we would be missing out on great blessings if we overlook the Source of that hope. It’s more than just a positive outlook for the future; it is grace for every moment of our present.
The daily walk alongside the Lord, our Teacher, as He guides us in truth inspires a hope greater than any damage the world’s troubles can inflict. This hope surely will sustain us all day long, no matter what the day might bring.
~*~
Author Bio:
This process of His teaching and our reliance generates lasting hope in a cycle that sustains not just our day, but our weeks, months, and years as well.
In Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV), David continues this theme. He says, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”
Scripture is full of promises of hope for God’s children, but we would be missing out on great blessings if we overlook the Source of that hope. It’s more than just a positive outlook for the future; it is grace for every moment of our present.
The daily walk alongside the Lord, our Teacher, as He guides us in truth inspires a hope greater than any damage the world’s troubles can inflict. This hope surely will sustain us all day long, no matter what the day might bring.
~*~
Author Bio:
Malinda Fugate writes from the heart.
Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books, including The Other Three Sixteens (May 2020 release with Ambassador International), Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.
Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.
Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays. Malinda lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.
When she's not writing or working at church, she might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area.
~*~
Connect with Malinda:
Website: www.malindafugate.com
Blog: https://malindafugate.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/malthestar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malthewriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malthewriter/
Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books, including The Other Three Sixteens (May 2020 release with Ambassador International), Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.
Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.
Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays. Malinda lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.
When she's not writing or working at church, she might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area.
~*~
Connect with Malinda:
Website: www.malindafugate.com
Blog: https://malindafugate.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/malthestar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malthewriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malthewriter/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.