Maintain Hope And Joy

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse:Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Isaiah 33:22

22 For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver;    the Lord is our king; he will save us.

Readings: Psalm 72-73 Romans 9:1-15

To Maintain Hope And Joy

We have studied entering through the narrow door for a while and some may become fainthearted or weary so here is a list of what we can do to maintain our hope and joy as we strive(Luke 13:24).

1. The main battle is to keep Jesus as the main treasure of our lives. Jesus is the treasure in a field, Matthew 13:44-46. How? Pour your life into seeking and loving God in Christ. The fight is not an oppressive struggle to earn eternal life but to fight the satisfying struggle to live in the peace that Christ freely gives.

2. Christ enables our obedience. He promises to abide in us, John 15:5; to never leave us, Matthew 28:20; that the impossible is possible in God, Mark 10:27. We don’t strive to get His favor, we strive with His favor.

3. Our standing in Christ of forgiven and righteous is the foundation of our striving, not the goal.(Matthew 26:28; Luke 18:13,14)

4. We will not be perfect here. So, we must live as Jesus taught and confess everyday, “Forgive our debts(sins)as we forgive”, Matthew 6:12. The mark of a true believer is not perfection but a relenting battle against sin.

5. Jesus does not use his power to keep us from falling to sin, but keeps us from falling away. He told Peter, “When you turn again, strengthen your brothers”(Luke 22:32).

6. Remember our true position as children of God. We do not strive to become His children, He is helping us get home.(Matthew 10:29-31)

7. As you strive, remember, your name is written in Heaven, rejoice that your name is written in Heaven, Luke 10:20.

8. We have been given to Christ By God. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Nothing will remove us from God’s hand(John 10:29).

9. “No one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22)

The joy of God in Christ in us sustains our lifelong fight for the narrow door.

Make all these a matter of prayer.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Your name is all and Your kingdom is home. Give me wisdom for today and forgive me my negative thoughts. Lead me away from evil.

Wonderful Father,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen