Scriptures: Malachi 1:11, Psalms 30:5, Joel 2:25, Isaiah 61:7, Psalms 118:24

From Sunrise to Sunset

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:11 (NIV)

I am so excited that you have chosen to participate in this study! I believe that wherever you are in life right now—whatever your circumstances may be—God wants to remind you of His never-ending faithfulness and love for you. He wants to encourage you that good things are on the way…and that you have a reason to hope.

The sunrise is such a perfect symbol of God’s faithfulness. We can count on it every single day. Even if it’s cloudy—even when we can’t see it—we know it’s there. And just as the sun rises and sets without fail, it’s a constant reminder of God’s goodness that will never fail us.

Maybe some things in your life are shaking right now. Perhaps you’re facing some difficult things and life seems a little “cloudy.” The good news is that God is right here with you and nothing is too big for Him to handle. And even in the midst of what you’re going through, God wants you to remain filled with hope that He is in control and things will get better.

What is hope? Hope is the confident expectation that something good is going to happen. It’s closely related to our faith and what we believe. When we dare to hope, it floods our life with joy and peace.

The enemy wants us to be hope-less. He wants to convince us that our best days are behind us and nothing will ever turn out right. But God wants us to be full of hope—believing, expecting, and anticipating great things from Him.

There was a time when I would let negative circumstances—mistakes, disappointments, or setbacks—ruin tomorrow. If I missed an opportunity, I was sure that I messed up God’s plan. However, the Lord helped me to change my attitude. Instead of focusing on the negative thing that happened, God helped me to focus on the good things He can do in the future. He helped me to see the hope that’s on the horizon!

It’s no coincidence that our time is divided into 24-hour increments. God gives us new opportunities each and every morning to start fresh! It’s a chance to begin again—to try again, hope again, and watch Him do something we never expected.

Psalm 30:5 (NIV) says, …Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) encourages us that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning….

You see, regardless of what happened yesterday, last week, or last year, today is a new day! God is working behind the scenes to help you, and He wants to amaze you with His goodness and faithfulness.

In fact, I’ve discovered that God’s Plan B is often better than Plan A could have ever been. Even when someone else or an unforeseen circumstance affects our lives, God promises to take the negative things that happen and use it for our good (Romans 8:28).

In Joel 2:25, God says, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…” (NIV). And in Isaiah 61:7 (NIV), He tells us, Instead of your former shame, you will receive a double portion…. With God, no one can ever truly take anything away from you. If you will trust Him, He can take a bad situation and make it up to you.

I encourage you to look at each day as a chance to start again. When you wake up, declare things like, “This is the day the Lord has made—I will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24). As the sun rises each day, choose to also let God’s hope rise up in your heart, knowing that He has a future filled with good things in store for you.

Prayer Starter: “Father, thank You that each day is a new opportunity to start fresh! Help me, in a greater way than ever before, to view this day and my future with hope and expectancy. I commit to You all of my mistakes, disappointments, and setbacks, and I ask according to Your Word that You will work it all out for my good. Help me to become a person continually filled with hope, knowing You have good things planned for my future. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: John 10:10, Amos 3:3, Romans 8:28, Isaiah 30:18

Dance in the Puddles

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had stormy days (or weeks…or months) that challenge our faith and threaten to derail us. But what if I told you that God never intends for us to have “a horrible day,” even when things aren’t going our way? It’s the truth. Even when bad or inconvenient things happen to us, God wants us to expect good things and stay filled with hope, regardless of our circumstances.

Amos 3:3 (NIV) says, Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?

When bad things happen, everything inside of us may feel like being negative or giving up. But that’s not how God operates. He is full of hope, and if we want to be hopeful, we need to get in agreement with Him.When we choose to respond to negative situations in a positive way, we are agreeing with God, because God is always positive.

In fact, do you know that most of the time it’s not our circumstances that make us unhappy, but it’s our attitude toward what’s happening that has the power to make us miserable or joyful?

For instance, if something disappointing happens—and these things happen to all of us—there’s a temptation to feel sorry for ourselves, get frustrated, and want to throw in the towel. However, if we wallow in self-pity or have a resentful attitude toward the life we have, it’s only going make our circumstances worse!

On the other hand, if we choose to keep a positive attitude, God can take even the bad things that happen to us and work them out for our good! (Romans 8:28).

I often encourage people to play “The Glad Game.” What is it? When you’re faced with a negative situation, choose on purpose to look at the potential good! For instance, if you get stuck in traffic, say, “I’m moving slow and running behind, but maybe God is protecting me from an accident that would have occurred if I was going faster.”

This works for any situation, big or small. Even if it’s something as important as losing a job, you can choose to shift your focus to the positive and say, “I may be out of work, but now I have an opportunity to watch God provide me with a better job than I had before!”

You may think, Joyce, do you really live like this? Yes, I do! I used to be one of the most negative people I knew. I used to say, “I’m not going to expect anything good to happen so I’m not disappointed when it doesn’t.” As you can guess, I was quite miserable and also made everyone around me miserable. If I was having a bad day, I could easily make it worse!

But I discovered that was no way to live. Now, I can honestly say that I’m a very positive person. It’s a choice, but it’s one I gladly make each and every day because I want to live a life filled with hope and joy.

Isaiah 30:18 (AMPC) says, …The Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you…that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you….

Think about this for a moment. God is just waiting and expecting and looking for ways to be good to you. In fact, no matter what life brings your way, He already has a plan to make it better—a plan filled with hope and good things!

I encourage you to get in agreement with God. Approach each day with a positive, hopeful attitude. When life gets stormy, instead of staying frustrated and upset, choose to dance in the puddles, knowing that God is looking out for you and has so many good things ahead.

Prayer Starter: “Father, I thank You for the ability to enjoy life even when everything isn’t going my way. Help me to have Your perspective and choose positive, faith-filled thoughts when things get stormy. I ask for Your grace in each moment to choose hope, knowing that You are always working on my behalf for good. Help me to make every day a good day, regardless of what’s happening around me. I can only do it with Your help! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Matthew 6:27, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 6:26-27, Romans 15:13

Live in the Moment

“And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life? …So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself…”

Matthew 6:27,34 (AMP) 

I’ve ruined a lot of good days worrying about things in the future. Years ago, the Lord taught me that one major cause of worry is not living in the moment. We get ahead of ourselves and fill our minds and emotions with anxiety over things that may never happen. 

I used to agonize over future events or conversations. I’d worry about something going wrong or try to plan in my mind what I would say and do. Before I knew it, I was upset over a hundred different possible outcomes! And maybe the worst part was that it stole the joy and hope in the present moment. 

In Matthew 6:26-27 (AMP), Jesus says, “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life?” And in verse 34 He says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself…” (AMP). 

I love this! God is basically saying, “Look, I have everything under control—you can count on Me to always be there. So, don’t bother worrying, because it won’t do you any good anyway. Just focus on today!” 

Each day, we have a choice to make. When we’re tempted to worry about the future, it’s up to us to stop, give it to God, then choose to enjoy the present moment. If there’s something specific that you can do, then do it. But apart from that, it’s time to cast your care onto God, leave it alone, and stay filled with hope about the days ahead. 

You see, God gives us His grace—the power of the Holy Spirit—to live our lives. However, His grace comes with each task—not ahead of time. This is why we feel anxious when we try to figure out things that aren’t here yet. 

Romans 15:13 tells us we will have joy and peace when we believe. What should we believe? God wants us to believe that He loves us and that we can place every detail of our lives in His hands. He wants us to believe that He’s already been where we’re going…and He’s already taken care of everything before we get there! 

The world’s ways are different than God’s ways. The world is full of pressure, anxiety, and fear—it’s full of worry and hurry. But the normal for Christians should be peace and joy…even when our circumstances aren’t perfect or we don’t know what the future holds. Instead of dreading what’s next, we can stay filled with hope because God is on our side! 

The old saying is true: “We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we do know Who holds tomorrow.” 

Right now, I challenge you to take all of your worries and fears and give them to the Lord. Take a moment to pray and release the burdens onto Him. Then choose to enjoy today, knowing that when you get to tomorrow, God’s grace will be there waiting for you.

Prayer Starter: “Father, thank You for the gift of today. I ask for Your help to live in the moment—to enjoy the people around me and give myself fully to what I need to accomplish. When I begin to worry about the future or things outside of my control, please help me to give it all to You, knowing that all of Your help, strength, and grace will be there in the future when I need it. Help me to replace worry and fear with hope and expectancy of the great things to come. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 5:45-47, Galatians 6:7

Be the Bright Spot

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us….

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

It’s amazing to me just how much God loves each one of us. When He created the heavens and earth, He wasn’t just trying to keep busy or do something constructive. He created everything we see for you and me. All of creation is an expression of His true love for us!

One time, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “Joyce, I do so many things for people every day because I love them, and they don’t even see it.” Then He gave me this example: “Every day, when I speak to the sun and say, ‘Rise,” I do it for you.” (Matthew 5:45-47).

Think about that. The sun rises every day in the sky for you. When the rain comes and waters the crops, it rains for you. When the grass grows and the flowers bloom, it’s for you!

God has also created each one of us as an expression of His love. Second Corinthians 5:20 says, We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us… (NIV).

I believe one of the greatest opportunities we have as Christians is to be the bright spot in people’s lives and be a reminder that God loves them. This scripture takes it even further. God is saying that He is making His appeal—or attracting and drawing people to Him—through us. What an incredible privilege!

Just think, each one of us can be a source of hope and encouragement to those around us. It can be as simple as saying something positive to a person you work with or letting them know how much you appreciate them. Sometimes, I will take a moment to tell someone how much God loves them and wants to bless them. Our words are powerful (Proverbs 18:21), and a word of encouragement at the right time can literally transform someone’s entire day.

I don’t believe God wants us to just be spectators in life. He wants us to be people who really love others and care enough to help make their lives better. And as we reach out to people and choose to be a blessing—a bright spot in hopeless places—they begin to see what God is like, and it causes them to grow in their relationship with Him.

And can I let you in on a secret? The more you become a source of hope for others, the more your own life will be filled with joy and hope. Galatians 6:7 (ESV) says, …For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Today, find a way to let someone know they are loved and special—maybe someone who needs a word of encouragement or a sign that God still cares about them. We never know what challenges people face or how much they can use a kind word or a reminder that God loves them.

You can be the bright spot in someone’s day…and give them a reason to hope.

Prayer Starter: “Lord, thank You for all of the ways You show us Your unconditional love! Please use me today and every day to share that love with others around me. I ask that You will help me to be mindful of others and their needs. Let me be a good ambassador for You, pointing people to Your love, kindness, and good plan for their lives. Help me to be a bright spot and make a difference everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Philippians 3:13, 1 John 1:9, Psalms 103:12, Isaiah 43:18-19

Wave Goodbye to Yesterday

…One thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13 (AMPC)

If we’re going to live a life filled with hope, there are some things we’ll need to leave behind. Do you know that we can get so stuck in the past that we fail to grab hold of the good things God is doing today?

Many people walk around with a lot of spiritual “baggage”—weighed down by past regrets, missed opportunities, bad decisions, or mistakes they just can’t forget. If we’re not careful, we can carry the pain of the past into our present…and even let it affect our future.

The truth is, God has a great plan for your life, and He wants to take you to the next level in your relationship with Him and the good things He has in store. But in order to move forward, you’ll need to wave goodbye to some things from yesterday.

Look with me at Philippians 3:13-14. The apostle Paul tells us: …But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (NIV).

I love this! With God, we can forget about what lies behind us—that is, the things we cannot change—and press on toward the good things ahead.

I believe some of the most difficult things to leave behind are guilt and regret over past sins or mistakes. Let’s make one thing clear: We all make mistakes. We’ve all grieved over a bad decision or something we’ve said or done that can never be taken back. But there’s a difference between healthy grief—acknowledging our sin, feeling sorry for it, and choosing to repent—and feeling condemned.

You see, our enemy, Satan, wants to condemn us and oppress us with guilt. He wants us to walk around feeling bad about ourselves all of the time. However, look at what God’s Word says:

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness… (1 John 1:9 AMPC).

Here’s the truth: Whether we feel forgiven or not, God forgives us the very moment we ask, if we are sincere and our hearts are right before Him. Sometimes we need to receive His forgiveness as a step of faith, choosing to believe what God’s Word says over what our feelings are telling us.

When you go to God for forgiveness, the Bible says something amazing happens: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 AMPC).

Wow! Take a moment to let that sink in. It doesn’t say that God thinks about forgiving us or waits to see how we’ll act for the next 30 days before making a judgment. No, He removes our sin and lets it go. And if He lets it go, then so should we.

So, what are you holding on to today that could be holding you back? Guilt over past mistakes, the pain of a relationship not working out, or a missed opportunity? Whatever it is, God is the God of new beginnings, and He wants you to begin getting excited about your future.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, He says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV).

Regardless of the past—what happened yesterday, last week, or even years ago—God has new and even greater things in store for your life. With Him, we always have a reason to hope!

Prayer Starter: “Father, I thank You for Your love and mercy! You are the God of new beginnings and fresh starts. Right now, I ask for Your divine help to let go of any baggage from the past that is holding me back. Please strengthen my mind and help me to focus on what’s ahead instead of those things from the past. I receive Your love and forgiveness, and I choose to run forward into the great future You have for me! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Romans 8:18, Psalms 34:3, Hebrews 12:1

Today Is Only Temporary

…For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us….

Romans 8:18 (AMPC)

When life is difficult and we’re not particularly happy with our circumstances, it can feel like things will never change. I believe our enemy, Satan, likes to use the “always” and “never” lies to keep us discouraged. He’ll come at us with thoughts like, You’ll never amount to anything…Your child will always have this problem…You will never get out of debt.

Especially during challenging times, it’s helpful to remember that things will change…a new season is always right around the corner. In our family, when difficult things are happening, we like to say, “This too shall pass.” I encourage you to do the same. Maybe you’re having a financial difficulty, relationship problems, or a tough time battling an illness. It’s important to remind yourself that it won’t last forever.

It also helps to have an eternal perspective. Romans 8:18 says, …For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us… (AMPC). When we look at our problems in light of eternity—focusing on who God is and how truly blessed we are—it begins to change how we see things.

Psalm 34:3 (AMPC) says, O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. How do we magnify the Lord? We thank Him for the good things He is doing in our lives. We give Him praise for who He is, how much He loves us, and for the wonderful things He will do in the future.

To put it simply, when we magnify the Lord, we make Him “bigger” than our problems. When we place our focus on Him and His goodness, we suddenly have more faith and hope that God can and will help us through it all.

Maybe today you feel stuck in neutral and feel like nothing’s happening. Maybe you’re believing God for improved health, a better job, or for a turnaround in a relationship. Or the Lord has given you a big vision for your life but it seems like little has happened after so much time has already passed. If this is you, I want to encourage you that God is always working! He’s working right now behind the scenes to bring solutions, breakthroughs, and answered prayers. In the meantime, He wants you to stay filled with hope.

Hebrews 12:1 (AMPC) says, …Let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.

Patience is a big part of faith and hope. Most things won’t happen overnight, and faith requires us to wait for God’s appointed time without giving up or wavering. Patience is an attitude that says, “I’m going to stay calm and believe God is going to do exactly what He said He’s going to do!”

Remember, today is only temporary, and the difficult things won’t always be this way. But as you trust God and refuse to give up hope, nothing can stop Him from blessing your life in amazing ways.

Prayer Starter: “Father, I know some things in my life look really big right now. You see what they are, and I know You are with me. In the midst of these things, I thank You that change will come, and You already have a plan. Help me to live with patience and endurance, knowing good things are on the way. When life is overwhelming, help me to see the big picture. Let me focus on You and see my life in a whole new way. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13

Something Good Is Going to Happen!

“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 

I am so glad you have joined me for this study on hope! As we wrap this up, I want to share with you something I do almost every single day of my life. It’s one of the greatest things we can do to get in agreement with God and fill our hearts with hope.

First, let me begin with a question: When was the last time you said to yourself, Something good is going to happen to me? I hope you’ve said this recently, but if you’re like most people, it’s probably been a long time. 

As I’ve discussed in this study, I believe our natural inclination, apart from God, is to focus on the negative. It’s easy to concentrate on everything that does or could go wrong. The media is also filled with primarily negative news. It’s been proven that negative news attracts attention. The bottom line is that if we’re going to focus on the good, it has to be a choice! 

Do you want to hear something encouraging? God says “Fear not” 365 times in the Bible. He doesn’t want us to be afraid, anxious, or worried. He wants us to trust that He’s in control of our lives, He loves us, and He’s greater than our greatest fears. 

You see, most people think about the worst-case scenario as a way to deal with their fear. They try to tell themselves, Okay, what’s the worst thing that could happen? I could probably handle that.

And in thinking they’ve kept the fear under control, what they’ve actually done is allow negative thoughts to darken their mind. But God never created any of His children to live this way. He wants you and me to focus on His love and goodness. He wants us to believe that He has good things ahead for us. 

In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV). 

I have an assignment for you. Every time you have a fearful thought—every time you catch yourself dreading the future—I want you to purposely stop and say to yourself, “God hasn’t forsaken me—He’s with me, and He’s in control of my life. Something good is going to happen to me today!” 

I do this myself on a regular basis. Many mornings, I will purposely sit for a while and set my mind for the day. I’ll declare, “Something good is going to happen to me and through me today! This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice in it!” 

Remember, Romans 15:13 says, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…(AMP). God wants you to actively believe that good things are going to happen to you. When you do, it fills every part of your life with hope. 

Maybe you’re like I used to be. Maybe you are naturally a “glass-half-empty” type of person. If so, I challenge you to begin expecting God to do amazing things in your life. Look forward with anticipation at how He is going to perform His Word on your behalf. Read the Word and receive every promise for yourself. 

Say to yourself, “Something good is going to happen to me today!”

Prayer Starter: “Father, I thank You for this study, and for Your Word that tells me I don’t ever have to fear, but instead live every day with hope. Right now, I commit all of my fears and uncertainties to You—about myself, my future, my family, everything. I choose to say and believe that something good is going to happen to me and through me today! Please let the truths in this study remain in my heart; remind me of them each and every day as I choose to put all of my hope in You! In Jesus’ name, amen