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FAITH INCREASES THROUGH HOPE AS “AN ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED” WITH YOUR INTIMACY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Oftentimes, at the mention of Faith and Hope, the Bible verse that pops up in mind and on our lips as Christians is:
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in Hope.”

And:
Galatians 5:5 – “But we expect to be made completely Holy because of our Faith in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we wait in Hope.”
(In other words: Faith looks through the word to God in Christ; Hope looks through faith beyond the world to glory.)

These verses above and many others empower us to remember that our strength comes from our FAITH, enabling us to tackle challenges with confidence, as in: Isaiah 40:31: “But those who Hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

These scriptures complement our belief as Christians that our Faith increases by thriving in Hope through the Lord, by highlighting that our endurance and our character produce Hope that strengthens our Faith as Christians.

OUR FAITH IS TESTED BY CHALLENGES: So, fellow Christians, we should bear in mind that challenges may come in the lives of the Christian, so when life feels unsteady, and circumstances shift without warning, hang on to the anchor that does not move. This anchor is Jesus Christ.

Sensational circumstances may rise and fall left, right and center, but remember always that Jesus Christ remains powerful and he is your anchor to strap on.
The promises of the Lord God are not breakable; they are not flimsy, but they are fastened to eternal truth.

All his promises are unchangeable; they are “Yes and Amen.” Therefore, when fear tries to pull you off course, rehearse what the Lord has already promised you; his promises are secured. He has never broken any of his promises to us.

The promises of the Lord are blessings for us as a source of encouragement. This is often used to focus on the strength of our Lord God, the ultimate source of hope, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, rather than human efforts. Our walk with Christ encourages us to persevere and build our faith with him.

[2 Corinthians 5:7] – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Without faith, hope is just empty wishing; without hope, faith has no goal. Have you checked your faith level? Is it mustard seed faith, a little bigger than mustard seed or greater faith, or perfect faith?

We can’t walk with Christ without his instructions, without believing in him, without trusting in him. So the question is, what is your Faith level, my fellow Christian?

Nevertheless, let us get started here to do our own “reality checks” on our faith as followers of Christ using the few Scripture verses below.

Mark 9:23 – “All things can be done for the one who believes.”
Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”
Matthew 17:20 – “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Accordingly, where do you sit with these Scripture verses?

Romans 15:13 at the start of this write-up enlightens us that we “overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” as we trust in God (Faith). The Spirit uses the Word of God to fuel this hope, as Biblical hope is entirely dependent on God’s promises rather than current circumstances.

Hence, as a Christian, let your hope in Christ Jesus steadies your restless thoughts and guards your heart from drifting away from Christ. You are not anchored to troubles, but you are anchored to a faithful Saviour. This is the Lord’s assurance grounded in truth, so receive it and walk with it.

No storm can destroy what God has secured and built. Your anchor holds, not because you grip tightly, but because the Lord is steadfast and convinced. So thank the Lord for being your anchor in every season.

Ask the Lord to keep you steady in faith and hope, before the storm, in the storm, until the storm passes. Keep your Faith and Hope alive; the Lord’s love for you is unbreakable.

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HIS PEACE JUST DOESN’T VISIT

To let peace reign in your heart, you must learn how to let the past go away from your life and start forgiving those who have hurt you. Lay them down at the foot of the Cross and think about the sacrificial blood that Jesus shared for the body of Christ.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” [Colossians 3:15] ESV

Often, to be at peace with others, we must remain indifferent to their hurtful actions. If you have never been in this place in your life before, it is easier said than done.

Hence, what would be the rationale of Jesus crucifixion on the cross if we can’t forgive others for hurting us? He took the punishment for the sins he did not commit on our behalf, so that you and I shall be saved and have salvation that will lead us to meet and live with the Father in eternity. This was by grace and mercy, the grace we did not deserve because we were sinners.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his.” [Isaiah 53:5]ESV

He came to the world for this purpose and to his own to live with them to fulfill this Divine intervention. Nevertheless, in the world, his own rejected him; they hated him, yet he stood in for us – all the way to the cross to die this horrible death.
His own subsequently nailed him to the Cross and killed him, but on the Cross, he was forgiven – he forgave us on that rugged cross by taking all our filthy sins.

Amazingly, in his pain, he still saved one sinner to his right, a repentant robber who was also facing crucifixion as well, promising the robber that he would be in Paradise with him that night while the Roman soldiers were mocking Jesus on the Cross.

And when the hour came for Jesus to give up the Spirit, he said Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing, and cried out with a loud voice Father, it is finished. A conversation with the Father, signing off that the work he assigned to him in the World to save humanity from sins is completed.

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” [Luke 23:34] ESV.

Jesus was at peace with the world and submitted to his Father’s will to complete his assignment. Jesus forgave mankind with no regrets, but with love. Jesus forgives all our sins with no strings attached.

So here is the Question: Why is it so difficult to forgive and have peace, rule in your heart? We all have a story to tell and a reason we don’t want to forgive others because of one of the following. For example:
Have been falsely accused,
Have been stepped on,
Have been slandered,
Have had bitter feuds with some family members,
Have had a feud / fight with a friend,
Have had a bitter siblings’ feud,
Have had bitter fights/arguments with colleagues at work, and the list goes on.

The point I am trying to make is: Why has Jesus Christ, the one against whom we’ve sinned, not taken any grudge with us, go to the Cross and die horribly for us to be cleansed from our sins, to be forgiven us all our sins? Forgiven and paid it all.
And so, why can’t we as mankind forgive our friends, our brothers and sisters, if Christ forgave us all our wicked sins then, now, and forever at the Cross?

Forgiveness: Are you in a hard and rocky situation like this in your life now? Can you not forgive? Are you continually battling this canker? The devil is at work. He’s always in the business of divide and conquer.
My Christian friend, do not fall for the enemy when it comes to forgiveness. The enemy is crushing everything in your life, building an “unforgiven spirit” in your heart. Take heed now and forgive all those who have hurt you.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” [Matthew 6:14-15]ESV

Sensing the danger through your spirit or in physical, take your faith to the next level by aligning your prayer with the Divine spirit through His Holiness, and break away from the unforgiving spirit. Have faith and trust in the Lord to take charge, to speak the Word, and declare the blood of Jesus over the circumstances to pray out the unforgiven spirit that has taken residence in your heart.

As Christians with faith, when we plead the blood of Jesus, demons flee, and darkness runs. His blood is more powerful than any force in the universe that comes against us. Unforgiveness is a demonic spirit for certain. We should not allow the enemy to control the peace in our hearts. Break the spirit by speaking to it with faith and hope that it shall be well.

Question: Do you have faith in the words you speak? Examine what’s ruling your heart and exercise that faith now. Is it unforgiveness, fear, worry, or unrest? Or is it the peace of God? His peace doesn’t just visit— it stays, it rules, if only you will let him.
Keep your Faith and Hope alive.

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REST ASSURED, YOU HAVE ALL THE SECURITY

As a Christian, your protection is held securely by the Lord Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega. In Christ, you have divine protection while walking in God’s will, often in the face of dangers – his anchor will hold you.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.”
[Psalm 91:11]KJV

Beloved, thank the Lord for his strength and support for you. Keep your eyes fixed on him, trust him at all times, most especially in hard times. And with your Faith in him, expect that your security is assured, because of his faithfulness and promise.

God has given the Angels charge over us to protect us in the same way the Angels encircled Elisha and his servant from the Syrian army and protected them in time of need. In that same way, the Angels are surrounding his faithful ones and protecting them the same way today as at then. We have to continue to abide in him, trust and align our divine spirit to his Holiness, as the children of God.

It doesn’t matter what storms are surrounding you now or would in future. Even if you are in the midst of a crowd, you are anchored under the cover of the Lord. In that frenzied moment, you could be that one man or woman alone among them, remaining completely calm because of your faith. So, through your deep-rooted faith in Christ, your word of wisdom or prayer will not anchor you alone but will be supportive and comforting to all.

As we choose to make God our refuge and our dwelling place, he will command His angels to watch over us and surround us with this divine protection. God is our refuge and strength, and we should not by any means lose sight of this promise. He is our protection, and he has commanded angels to come to our assistance every time. Do you believe that? Oh, yes, I do. Trust in him and strengthen your faith in him, and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

You may ask why the all-powerful God needs Angels to protect his children.
Here is why – Yes, God is more than powerful enough to function without Angels, but he chooses to use them to uphold his will for mankind and beyond. He chooses to use them to declare to the world what his will is, but more importantly, he uses them to protect us from the evil one and his evil plots against his children daily.

A clear example of Angels used for our protection can be established in the second chapter of the book of Kings as the basis for my topic from Psalm 91:11 at the start of this write-up, “… he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways”, meaning what? He will protect his children in every way without hesitation to win the battle for them.

It is very clear that the children of the Lord are often being sought for destruction by the devil and his cohorts, but God never forsakes us and has all the protection and resources his children need at every time. Hence, we as the children of God have to be “eye openers,” very shrewd, and be discerning in the spirit because our battle is not physical but spiritual.

That said, we must take comfort that, whether it is war or in personal storms of any kind, grieving and lamentation, the Lord is always anchoring us in his care by giving “his angels charge over us.”

To take courage and increase our faith, let us avail ourselves of the testimony of Prophet Elisha and his servant at the time when the king of Syria was at the throat of the people of Israel. The Syrian army could come anytime, kill, ransack and loot everything now and then without any notice or Israel being aware.

Then came Prophet Elisha, so powerful and could prophesy everything about Israel, present and future and the attacks from Syria. The Syrians then grew weary of Elisha, who was leaking every move of their invasion against Israel, rendering them failures. So the attention was drawn to eliminating Elisha.

Elisha knew that the Syrian king had sent soldiers to surround the city to kill and eliminate him. So Elisha and his servant woke up in the morning, seeing hundreds of chariots and horses of soldiers surrounding them.
Elisha, on his part, was not afraid because he knew how the story will end. God has sent his Angels over the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, all around him and the servant.

And so, this is how the Scripture narrative revealed what happened, to the panicky servant’s surprise, through the divine power of God.
He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [2 Kings 6:16-17]ESV

Here Are the 3 Takeaways:
1) The servant saw only the physical danger, while Elisha saw the spiritual reality
of God’s protection over them. The servant’s faith had grown weary with fear.
2) Despite how devastating our circumstances appear, God’s invisible presence
is stronger than any adversary.
3) As believers, we have to trust the Lord and align our spirit with His Divine
Holiness to discern beyond circumstances with faith in God’s power.

As a Christian, you have all the help and protection you need, so do not fear but rather be aware of what you have and strengthen your faith.
We never would have known Christ’s love if Christ had not died for us. We could neither have seen the Fathers’ affection and faithfulness towards us. His asking, trust in me, have confidence and faith with hope in him.

And if you do, rest assured you are always secured because “he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.” Keep the Faith and always keep Hope alive.

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REFRAME THE NARRATIVE

Don’t play the victim mentality for sympathy. It will either keep you retrogressively in life or in cycles of stagnation. Instead, take stock. Examine your past challenges as opportunities for growth, and move completely from a victim mentality to building your own authority, identity, and independence through faith in Christ Jesus.

[Psalm 34:15] – “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This verse is a promise that God is near, not so far away, during times of deep sorrow, grief, and emotional pain. The verse offers comfort, assurance, and divine intervention for those struggling with hopelessness – victimhood per se in this subject.

Beloved, here is the encouragement for us. To defeat such narratives, I will entreat you to refrain from your inward-looking shadow and light up your God-created image in your personality.

So how do you do that, you may ask? Start reframing your personal narrative through the lens of the scripture, and shifting from a perspective of victimhood to one of divine purpose. View life’s challenges as part of a larger story that was written by only our Lord God, but not man. Once you are in recognition of this Biblical ethos, lay the victimization narrative under the foot of the cross for Christ.

To strengthen your mindset, you will have to align yourself with the divine spirit of the Lord by renewing your mind, as Romans 12:2 states: You need to ‘Trust in the Lord as the author of your life,’ and find hope in his promises that will transform your pain into God’s purpose for your life. You certainly will achieve a great makeover of your life if you trust in the Lord with confidence, faith and hope in him.

Looking at Proverbs 3:5-6, we realize that it is the primary Scripture verse for encouragement, highlighting God’s plan over human reason for trusting God’s direction over our life: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”. If we submit to God’s plan over our own understanding, our narratives will change the narrators’ stories through prayers and our faith in Christ.

Believers, if the Lord has broken the barrier of victimhood, you should accept and acknowledge past experiences as lessons, and don’t let them hold you imprisoned. You can never move forward to empower yourself for any success, spiritually and in any facet of life, be it business or social, by holding on to the past or past pain.

See, the devil would want you not to move on to renew your mind to narrate your positive story. The devil is well aware that spot is difficult to let go – it is the “spirit of unforgiving.” But you have the power through Christ Jesus to overcome it, and that power tool is only through fervent prayer by aligning it with the divine power of the Living God.

So with prayer and perseverance, you will change your outward and inner expression to match God’s created personality, asking the Lord to guard and direct your mind. Pray that you can discern and identify the source of self-focused and self-defeating thoughts to replace your negatives or self-defeating mindset, and always trust the Lord that your declarations are recognized, so you can rest in peace with a renewed mind.

As a Christian, you have to act to align yourself with the Lord to embrace the present, not the past, as it is clearly stated above. The Lord’s presence in your life will help you to make choices that lead to desired outcomes. Your present is your focal point toward your future success, not your past realities – discern deeper in the spirit and take greater control over decisions and actions that will empower you to success in God’s glory.

Beloved, I wish you therefore to take note of Ephesians 1:11 that, “God works all things after the counsel of his will.” Consequently, trust in the Lord with faith and hope, and shift from a victim mindset to a survivor mindset; focus on your strengths and the opportunities ahead rather than deficits or the past.

This means that your life, all of it, has been worked out according to the counsel of God’s will, and as long as our confidence, our faith, and hope are in him, the mentality of victimhood will never have a place in God’s people. Keep the Faith and Hope alive.

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Abiding in the Lord means having FAITH in him.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” [John 15:4- 5]ESV

To simply state it: Abiding in the Lord means having FAITH in him and depending on him alone. When you depend on the Lord, you believe in him, you have confidence and trust in him, and accordingly, your faith and hope are in him. With that in mind, you have to act and operate within these parameters for your going out and your coming in, but not idling.

So, the question is – are you struggling to see fruit in your life? Are you questioning yourself why? How is your confidence, trust and dependency in the Lord according to John 15:4-5 above? Are you sitting idle without taking the physical steps to bring your faith into reality? Take the step of faith, walk the talk, do the talk; the Lord goes before you always if you abide. You will get the result if you act.

Whatever it is, I encourage you to prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the type of fruit in your life as a Christian. If you know you have not yet put your faith fully in Christ, then you must commence now. The Lord God wants a relationship with his children, and you can begin your relationship with him immediately. And remember, you cannot abide by the orange stem if you want to bear mango fruits.

The more we know Jesus, the more we love the Word, and the more we allow it into our spirit, the more our FAITH grow, and so the stronger we are firmly attached to the vine.

Faith in Christ in Christianity is everything. “It is an active trust and reliance on God and Jesus Christ, going beyond sheer intellectual belief to a confident commitment that shapes one’s life and actions.” It is rooted in God’s revealed character and promises for mankind.

In simple terms: It’s not just knowing God is good; it’s living like God is good and trustworthy, even when circumstances are hard, because you believe his promises are true.

Abide in him with trust. Your security is assured in Christ if your faith level is as little as a mustard seed. The verse below is an example of faithful levels that we can consistently build. The bigger our faith level, the greater we can move mountains, but not a mountain. In the Book of Matthew, chapter seventeen, Jesus taught and encouraged his disciples about the levels of faith using the mustard seed. This tells us that the greater our faith, the greater the result.

Jesus said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 [ESV]

The faith of the child of God is the most powerful and “most potent of all securities” as a Christian, so the faith you have determines the kind of Christian you are and your confidence level. You’ve all the help and protection you need, so do not fear, be aware of what you have and use them by abiding in the Lord confidently and trusting in him.

If you trust the Lord and have confidence and faith in him, abide in him and bear fruit. And here is the thing: there shall not be any vulnerability, you shall be fully covered, and the Lord will offer a shelter no storm can violate.
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” [Psalm 91:4]

Faithful ones, your faith is held securely by the Lord Jesus, the Alpha and Omega. Thank Him for His strength and his example. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, especially in hard times. He is the only one to turn to abide with confidence, trust, faith and hope in him.

Once we abide in the Lord, he bears fruit in our lives. This glorifies him and blesses us and those around us. The threats of the day can never touch us. The fears of all the chaos around us cannot come any closer. So you and I can dwell under his wings as we abide by the vine. He will watch over us day and night.

Father, today I am committing my Faith unto you for whatever I do because I have every trust and confidence in you. So may you set me up in the plans you have for me and establish the work of my hands and my life as I abide in you. So Lord, I declare Proverbs 16:3, and Psalm 90:17 for every blessed day of my being. Beloved, keep your Faith and Hope alive in Christ.
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God is not bound by time. God is already present in our future — preparing the way for you and me, scheduling and directing every unknown situation to clear the way, for us now and for our strength for our tomorrow.

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” DEUTERONOMY 31:8
So here’s the truth to steady your heart: God doesn’t wait for you to enter the unknown—HE GOES BEFORE YOU.

Before hitting your feet on the floor every morning, he has already walked our paths ahead and marked them with surveillance. So I am here to remind you and encourage you that we are never alone, as long as we keep trusting, and keep the Faith, and Hope in him, he will always walk ahead to clear all the obstacles for us. Every meeting, every task, every challenge, every discouragement has already passed under his sovereign watch.

Our Lord God is proactive, but not a reactive God. He has already had all things covered for our good. He is not a “figuring things out” God. Man will say, give me a minute or two or some time to figure it out, and will keep you informed – but our God is the Author, the Creator, the Artist, the Air of this universe and all that is therein. He is already standing in for our tomorrow and future.

As faithful ones of God, we should not doubt and veer off from our Lord, but rather we should continue to trust him, the only One that matters and the One who holds our future, rather than figuring it out ourselves to know the future itself. He has already overcome the world for us.

“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]

The Lord God who has brought you this far is already at work on your case and mine. Let us be grateful and pray that our confidence rise in Christ, but not in our understanding and strength, but in the faithfulness of the only One who matters and leads you and me.

When in doubt at any point in time, or down, remember that the same God who holds you and who carries you through every sunrise to sunset is always at work. He who knows it all – the Omniscience, and he who is present at every step you take – the Omnipresence and he who fights your fight and battles for you, he is the mighty one, the Omnipotence – he is your Captain and General. He is your Warrior, the Lord your God. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” [Exodus 14:14]

1. He does not fail and has never lost a battle.
2. He does not forget, and his hands are not short that he cannot save.
3. He goes before us in every battle and stays beside us to victory.
4. Don’t give up at every level, and when you seem to be out of touch, revisit this writing to encourage yourself to rejuvenate your faith.

So remember that starting today with this assurance of hope, you are not going to forge your own way of doing things but will follow the Lord who never missteps.

The focal point is to trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness when the future is unclear and keep your Faith and Hope alive.

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Christian’s Life With The Lord Must Be Aligned With: Trust, Faith, and Hope.

As Christians, Faith in the Lord is our foundation, and we should not be shy to present ourselves as such. We must constantly seek him and rely upon him. We must not be ashamed or afraid to exercise our beliefs and faith in our everyday lives. – Trust
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him,”- Faith

The Lord God is our advocate, and we should be fearless. So if we do all these and believe in him, then he will answer us according to our needs. Our needs are numerous, and if we trust him, he will fulfill his promises to us by rewarding us the more we seek him. – Hope

So these three (3) things, we must adhere to, to align our Christian life with the Lord – Trust – Faith – Hope.

Hebrews 11:1-3. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
In tough times, it is complicated and easier said than done to wrap your head around such phrases like “the conviction of things you have not seen,” but believe that you will get the answers with genuine communication with the Lord. – Prayer
Trust me, you are not alone. You just have to trust, obey, and rest assured that the Lord is right on the bat for you.

Trust the Lord and believe his promises. Trust in the Word, Have Faith that the Lord will answer, Hope that you will receive what you envision.
Likewise, Hope is Trust in the Lord, with Faith deep-rooted in the spiritual anchor of the Lord.

If we as Christians have the clear understanding of these three (3) beliefs anchored in our souls, the consequential effects that will be significant, or important in our lives as Christians will have major impacts in our spiritual and physical lives happening as a direct effect of our Trust, Faith, and Hope in the Lord Jesus in shaping our future state of our walk with him.

Consequently, the result of receiving what you Hope for is through great Faith. If you doubt, you will not receive. What use is it, if you ask, and you are skeptical of receiving what you ask for? James 1:6 “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Let me ask a simple question? How often do you check to see that a chair is in good condition before you sit on it when you enter an office? And how often do you check a chair’s condition when you enter into an office, and you are welcomed by your host asking you, “Can you have a seat?

Without a doubt, you act with all your faith without thinking; you drop into the chair like a bag of sand. Why do you act with no hesitation but act with trust? Why? Is it because you physically see the object? Think about it. Hence, what are trust, faith, and hope to you as a Christian? What is your faith level?
Ephesians 2:8-10 states that, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Belovers, let us receive God’s grace and promises with a strong bond. So as we build stronger relations, we henceforth establish our trust; increase our faith and our hope. Furthermore, as long as we can trust in the Lord and have faith that the Lord can do, we can also hope for what’s coming in the future. In the affirmative, we will build our faith stronger, and we will build a perfect faith.
So below are a few key takeaways:

Trust relates to the relationship between the Lord and us as Christians.

Faith believes “he can.”

Hope focuses on what’s coming in the future and how the Lord, based on our faith and experience, will act.

For greater faith, we must practice: Patience / Endurance, Resolve, and Resolute.

Endurance, Resolve and Resolute: These three concepts are foundational to a life built in Jesus Christ.

Faith (or Belief): This is the foundational trust and confident reliance on the character, power, and promises of God.
It is not a mere mental ascent but an active trust that leads to obedience and action. Hebrews 11:1 states that it is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith is essential for salvation (Ephesians 2:8) and for pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6). It is rooted in the reality of the crucifixion of Christ on the cross, Jesus Christ’s resurrection as he prophesied before he went to the Cross.
Hope: In the biblical framework, hope is not idealism or self-delusion but an exciting expectation of the future good that God has promised.

As Christians, hope is a spiritual anchor for our souls without wavering. It provides endurance and perseverance during trials. It is anchored in God’s faithfulness to fulfill God’s word. Hope is our provision for inspiration to sustain us as Christians through difficulties because we know that what is envisioned will end in the glory of God.

Take Note: Faith is our foundation as Christ Followers, hence Trust in the Lord, -Keep the Faith and keep Hope alive.

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Every so often, the days can be so gloomy, life can be tough, and you only see the road getting narrower and narrower. Situations might be continually changing around you, but not for the better. You wake up every day to face huge battles. Such battles are beyond your comprehension. It may include one or multiple of these:

1. A protracted illness
2. Financial and economic hardships
3. Loss of job or career, or can’t find employment
4. Going through a bitter divorce or in a hard marriage
5. Time to marry – you’ve been craving for Mr./Miss Right – but no sign
6. Death in the family – loss of a child as a parent or loss of a spouse

The struggles seem to be protracted for far too long, and they still linger with no end in sight. So you ask yourself and ask God, Oh Lord, what is going on in my life?

While any one of the examples above is so concerning, there’s not one that can equal the death of a family member so close, a spouse or child. “The death and loss of a child are frequently called the ultimate tragedy, and nothing can be more devastating.” Without faith and hope in God, stages of grief, and other issues, “make parental and spouse bereavement particularly difficult to resolve.”

Take Stock around you, and hold firm to your Faith and do not be separated from the love of God.
Hold on and don’t give up – for the Lord is with you. Your faith and hope in the Lord is being put to the test. Psalm 120:1: “In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me.”

As it is written in Romans 6:36-39 – “For your sake we face death all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Always keep in mind that in the center of all these, you still have so much to be thankful for. Take a look around you – outside of the box you are in now and take stock to see God’s unfailing love for you. For this reason, and even in the midst of it all, we still have so much to be grateful for in this life.

We Must Be Praiseworthy
We must also note that communication with God through prayer shouldn’t be only about requesting what we want; we must be thankful to the Lord for all the things we are praying for, as if he has already given them to us. These prayers must be backed by genuine faith that we have already been answered. 
From the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged us in Matthew 7:7 that with persistent prayer, you should: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Jesus encourages us to have faith that we will receive what we ask for.  When we pray, we must trust that God will answer us. Without that trust, it’s meaningless to pray for something you are not sure of receiving. You may find this odd. However, God expects us to do it. This is what is called Faith and Hope in God.

God is Always Trustworthy. Bring Your Needs to Him (Sorrow, Happiness)
God is infinitely more trustworthy than any human. God is dependable and has never lied. Correspondingly, the Lord God expects you to have faith in Him and expect the result. Whatever peril you are facing, don’t give up; you can pray like David when his own inner circle stood against him. He was straight to the point and strong in his prayers. You can always trust in the Lord God to save you.

The Lord God is Always Our Refuge. Lord God, you are my refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. I will not fear when “earthquakes” come and the “mountains” crumble into the sea. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies are here with me. You are my fortress. I will be still, and know that You are God.
When you find yourself that you’re in despair and feel that God is too far away from you in such a troubling situation or trials, let the words of Psalm 46 resonate in your heart. “Hold fast to the truths that God is your refuge, your strength, and present help.”

You Always Have an Ally
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Trust in the Lord, have Faith and believe what you hope for.
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WAITING FOR RESULTS IS NEVER EASY

The word “waiting” captures a key aspect of shared human experience irrespective of your belief. That enduring patience and waiting are universal arguments connecting Christians and the Secularists across generations.

It suggests a cycle where the act of waiting is a common, perhaps even necessary, part of the human condition, one that those who are gone before us also experienced.

The worldview of “waiting” does not conform to Christian ethos of “waiting.” They don’t believe that old truism that good things come to those who wait in the Lord. They rather believe that good things come to those who want something so bad and that they can’t wait. They put the wagon before the horse unfortunately missing the divine principle.

So they “believe in themselves” and do everything in their physical power without what the Bible teaches us as Christians. So here is what we do as Christians that they don’t understand or aware of it.

As Christians we firstly believe in effective results with prayers through the divine power of the Lord, and secondly we take the action – making the move much stronger towards what we have prayed to effect divinely.

The professed Christian does not put the wagon before the horse. Hence when the Christian quotes Isaiah chapter 40 in waiting, it does not mean he/she is folding his/her arms drinking coffee on the porch and gazing into the clouds waiting for action or manna. It does not make the Christian lazy as long as he/she is going for the action to effect a positive result.

Here is the “Positive Kicker”: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ISAIAH 40:31 (KJV)
So in defense of the Christian to the world – these are some of the takeaways for our scriptural ethos to all faithful Believers:

Waiting is never easy and everybody knows that. It can feel like being stuck, overlooked, or falling behind while others move forward. But God sees the waiting differently. In His kingdom, waiting is not wasting time or doing nothing, but it’s preparing and becoming. Start it with – Prayer – Act to effect the result – and continue to pray for the results from your action.

David waited for many years and went through the toughest battles of his life before he was enthroned as the king after being anointed by Saul. In the waiting David did not sit idle but went about doing what he does even though the monarchy was his.

Joseph in his case waited with no sign of success. He continued to trust and have faith in the Lord and endured hardships before he became ruler of Egypt.

Beloved, God is always doing something very crucial in the quiet seasons. He renews your strength—not just to survive, but to soar when we act. You may feel like you’re crawling, but in His time, he will help you fly. Continue walking in His presence and don’t skip a process, no matter how difficult the road may be. God’s presence is with you! Pray-Act- and receive the effective Result.

In everything give thanks to the Lord and stay tuned in to his voice and direction.
Thank the Lord with praise and with all your heart in preparing you to wait with faith despite the endurance.

Trust him and don’t believe that it’s your wisdom or self action that can give you the result. In your waiting the Lord is making you strong and getting you ready for other very important things for the next season while you’re still in the waiting of things you aren’t even aware – but this one must pass first.

Don’t you stop to thank him even at your lowest point when your legs could not even support the load any further. Be direct with humility and ask the Lord – Oh God increase my FAITH by replenishing my weary heart. And when you ask – believe it – take action and trust the Lord that your action brings effective result.
Trust the Lord with Faith and Hope that you will be answered by your Faith.

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THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERY SEASON

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

From this verse [ Romans 8:28 ] we realize there is a necessity to have faith in the Lord without doubt. The commitment is made by God and the precondition to receive is your love for God and your faith. This is a must for everyday in every season. This is not unconditional but a conditional to walk in the Lord – Faith and hope.

You have to have faith and hope that the Lord who is your father in heaven is ready to answer you, if you can trust and believe it with your faith in him.  

 Let’s put it this way that as a true child of God your grocery list of needs are always before him and pre-approved as long as they align with your needs to glorify him.

Accordingly, to trust in the Lord with all our heart, we must wholly rely upon his promises, wisdom, power, and love to help us in every circumstance.

These promises are not frivolous, and informal promises such as men make. God promises and commitments are rock-solid. They are yes and Amen and unquestionable.

He pledges and fulfils. He is not a man that promises and not acts. He does not take his word back. What God has promised he will without a doubt fulfill it.

Numbers 23:19: – “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?“ This is God’s unchanging faithfulness. He always keeps his promises and acts on his word.

This Bible verse above should encourage and remind you when you seem to wonder why your prayers are still. Mind you the Lord hears the voice of all his children in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “There is a time for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

The wait does not imply there won’t be an answer to your prayers. Your faith may be at test or you may be not packaging your prayers to align what you need. Don’t you give up. Trust and have faith in the Lord and hope that your prayers will be answered.

So my dear beloved, I declare a simple message of hope for the struggling ones: enjoy life by fearing the Lord even when you cannot comprehend his works and ways. You are not alone because as a child of God you stand out as a conqueror with your leap of faith and hope.

Sometimes life is full of different seasons, and things can change: your season is just arriving. Keep your prayers up. Have FAITH in Christ and keep your HOPE active.

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Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.“

Watch and pray to keep Faith and Hope alive if it’s not your season or time. Sometimes, life just doesn’t make sense. You know you’ve done everything but your prayers are just hitting the ceiling or the brick wall and not going anywhere – no answers. The doors of opportunities are being shut before you just as you are about to enter. You are going through a storm and no sight for the storm to stop. You are going through a season, except that no one can find out the work that the Lord is doing in your life from the beginning to the end.

Or you are on the other hand going through a plague. You are prone with disease or some illness but no cure after all. Your hope is running down and has forgotten that Job was plagued with all kinds of sores and illnesses. Job plagued with poverty by losing all his wealth through these testing moments but came out with victory because of his strong conviction, faith and hope in the Lord.

Or you are going through a marriage crisis. You have tried everything but the center cannot hold. The trajectory that you’re on seems blurry at best. You try to figure it out, but the more you lean on your understanding, the heavier everything feels. Everything is collapsing right before you. It is not a beautiful time.
It’s in moments such like these that God is calling you that child – have faith and hope in me and do not be discouraged because I am with you.

Bear in mind that even when your eyes can’t see it, God’s heart is still for you. He’s not asking you to pretend everything is all right. He’s always inviting you to lean on him instead of prioritizing your need to understand.
Here trusting the Lord does not mean your plan and your need is align with Gods’ plan. He is the only one who holds the plan that is good to carry you through it.

Hence, watch and pray, strengthen your Faith. You don’t need all the answers when you’re anchored in the Lord. God never changes. He is faithful even when nothing makes sense so do not lean on your own understanding to cut corners.

Proverbs 3:5-6 advises that, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

So, here are some takeaways for your knowledge, understanding and firm foundation for your trust, faith and hope in the Lord.
The Bible tells us to “trust in the Lord.” This means we have to fully rely on God’s wisdom instead of our own, acknowledging Him in all our actions, and having complete confidence in his guidance and character.

It involves surrendering control of our life to God, with the promise that he will direct our path and make it straight.
TRUST in the LORD, have FAITH and HOPE

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 [KJV]

To obey the Lord’s calling you are obliged to act positively to understand the call. Faith doesn’t wait for clearness or explanation. You have to step up to the plate because the Lord is calling on you.  When God calls, he walks with you all the way through the assignment.

The book of Hebrews Chapter 11 is known as the “faith chapter.”  It tells us that “faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” [Hebrews 11:1]. Faith is not “seeing is believing.” But it is first “believing” and then “seeing.” If you don’t get this in your spirit and act, you will miss the target.

You don’t wait in anticipation to make judgment for you to obey God’s instruction or command. The Bible tells us that there were men and women of faith that obeyed God’s command and they did exactly so. They were blessed from their generation to-date.

So, let us look at the comprehension of faith through the lenses of Hebrews Chapter 11:6 which states that, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” The verse is not saying that it’s hard to please God without faith. It is rather saying it’s impossible. If we don’t have strong commitment and the desire to live as people of faith, we will be passengers in the bus which we are supposed to drive ourselves.

The things we wish (Hope) for begins with the conception of Faith. Another way to put it is that without Faith it is impossible to please God, and therefore your wishes (Hope) are also impossible to achieve.

As stated above, the Scripture cites many examples of men and women of faith from an array of background. They were all different from various places, but they all had one thing in common, that is they were true men and women of faith.

Consequently, we can learn from these men and women of faith by educating ourselves how these faithful ones built their divine faith in the Lord to press forward Gods’ plan for mankind.

Many of these men and women of faith developed their faith through hard times or to some extent. Through it all, the Lord God shaped them, and sharpened them into dependable and honest men and women of faith.

In brief, Faith is proven when you move. Take the step of faith, trust the Lord to accomplish what your hope is (wish) and God will meet you with strength, provision, and direction.

If Abraham had refused to answer the Lords call, the nations of the world would have been different – that is without the Abrahamic covenant for the world. 

In Genesis Chapter 15:6, we learn that Abraham was the first person said to be made righteous by his faith. When God said to him to move, Abraham moved with faith from the land of his birth to an unknown land. And when God promised to give him a son in his old age, Abraham took Him at His Word, no question asked.

A reminder: If Noah had waited for the rain to fall, he never would’ve built the ark.

If Peter had waited for calm waters, he never would’ve walked.

Mark had a rough start, but God shaped him into a truthful and honorable man of faith.

Deborah, the Judge stepped into a position held by men before Israel even had judges.

Queen Esther stepped up with faith and courage to save Israel- God was ready to move and Esther eventually decided to move with him with faith.

Mary, the mother of Jesus was young when God chose her to carry the baby that would save the world. Mary witnessed the crucifixion of Christ but her faith carried her through the horror.

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SELF CONTROL – A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: There is a wise saying by an old man that says, “If a Christian marries a child of the devil, he is going to have a lot of trouble with his father-in-law.” Seems like humor but that’s the truth. It is a proven fact over the years, but several times in this age, young people have overlooked and doubted the saying. The problem is no patience and lack of self control.

SAMSON LIKE – ATTITUDE – INDISCIPLINE IS WEAKLING: Hence many years later many contemplate over their actions and realize that “the pain of discipline weighs ounces, while the pain of regret weighs loads of tons” regrettably. Such indiscipline often leads to inaction and bad choices in life in the areas of education, career, and relationships. Other times it may affect the health of individuals. The emphasis here is the lack of patience and uncontrollable indiscipline. Proverbs 13:18: “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame”.

SO WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS: As a Christian sometimes painful regret can also serve as a powerful inspiration? Nonetheless, there is nothing too late if you realize your mistakes and return to the Lord with regrets and with deep repentance. He is always ready to receive you in your suffering. Concede your past indiscipline and the resulting regret can inspire you to make disciplined choices in the present circumstances to avoid future suffering and work towards a better life. The Christian has an assurance. You are strong and have strength in the Lord to overcome your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9, states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

SHOW ME YOUR FRIEND: Remember the saying —“show me your friend and I will show you your character.” You become like those with whom you associate. We have read, heard, or seen that strong and powerful people in positions have fallen through bad association and indiscipline. “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV). Note in Proverbs: Companion of fools shall perish together.

WISDOM TRUTH: Hence from whatever angle you look at it, such acts, and association with lack of self-control are like these old sayings that obviously prove a point: “He who lies down with the dogs will rise up with fleas.” And “as the flour miller leaves some tiny sediment of flour, and on all those whom he brushes against on his way home, so do all our associates leave a deposit of their personalities upon our lives.” Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control”.

Let us be self-restraint in all our relations. No rush, but be patient, and exercise self-control in choosing. Wait and listen to the voice of the Lord.
The Lord is always ready with his arms open and stretched to welcome you as long as you are back to seek him. Be encouraged, and exercise your FAITH for there is HOPE

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BUILDING WALLS?

“In this day and age, walls can be viewed with negative nuances, but the truth of the matter is, building walls is for many reasons, spiritually and physically. In the Christian belief, walls symbolize divine protection spiritually for a faithful life and physically as boundaries for a peaceful environment on Earth for God’s people.  

Physical boundaries are not a new norm in the world when we look back into history, and they have always aligned with Biblical beliefs of the faithful and secularists alike.

“Overall, walls in the Bible carry rich and varied meanings, from literal structures of defence to powerful symbols of spiritual truths. They reflect the human need for security, the reality of division, and the hope of divine protection and unity.”

In Revelation 21:12,” the New Jerusalem is described as having a great and high wall with twelve gates, symbolizing the perfect and eternal security of God’s redeemed people.”  [Bible Hub]

One of the most popular walls, physically and divinely rebuilt from Biblical history, was the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah. It is recorded that, after the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah was moved by God to return to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding of the city’s walls, which had been destroyed. 

The book of Nehemiah 2:17 says: “Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace,” and the walls were built for the security and peace of the people.

Nonetheless, to some, walls can be seen as a source of imprisonment and division. They are often called things we need to break down and overcome.

However, when we look at walls in the Bible, they are also seen as structures that protect, provide security, and represent a place of peace and shelter, forming a sense of belonging. In the Old Testament, physical walls were built to serve as a deterrent vital for a city’s survival against intruders or enemies.

In the Christian life, walls are not only a physical deterrent but also a spiritual defence against attacks from the devil. So as spiritual walls of salvation and security are built through Christ, our physical life must be protected by aligning it with what the Bible say.

Critics, on the other hand, misinterpret Ezekiel 13:10, using it as an excuse to support and justify their argument for tearing down the physical structure of walls, whereas this is a spiritual statement warning false teachers and prophets-“wall” as a metaphor to say.

Exekiel 13:10-12 states: “Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and stormy winds break out. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?”

“In Acts 23, Paul stands before the Sanhedrin and is struck on the order of the high priest Ananias. In response, Paul exclaims, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law. Yet, you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck” (Acts 23:3). Here, Paul uses the term to denounce the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who outwardly uphold the law but inwardly act unjustly.

“Paul’s rebuke highlights the theme of God’s wrath against those who maintain an outward appearance of righteousness while engaging in unrighteous actions. The whitewashed wall serves as a metaphor for the superficial piety that God condemns, emphasizing the importance of genuine faith and integrity.” Stand firm in your FAITH and HOPE for your blessings. Trust the Lord, keep your Faith and Hope alive!

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