11/27/2020 —
We can see reasons not to have hope all around us. But because they can be seen, they are temporal. They will pass away.

But the things of God, which we cannot see, are eternal. They will never pass away. Place your hope today in the love, healing power and righteousness of the everlasting God, whose only son - Jesus Christ - died a sacrificial death on Calvary so you could spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18
^"We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. We consider living to mean that we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. So, then, death is at work in us but it releases life in you.
"We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says,
'First I believed, then I spoke in faith.'
"So we also first believe then speak in faith. We do this because we are convinced that he who raised Jesus will raise us up with him, and together we will all be brought into his presence. Yes, all things work for your enrichment so that more of God’s marvelous grace will spread to more and more people, resulting in an even greater increase of praise to God, bringing him even more glory!
"So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal” (TPT).

Psalm 91:1-7
"When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai,
you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.
He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence.
He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,
and he will protect you from false accusation
and any deadly curse.
His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you.
You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.
His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.
You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.
Don’t fear a thing!
Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil launched against you.
Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed" (TPT).

• Charles Haddon Spurgeon noted, "Hope itself is like a star - not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity."· 2020 has been disappointing for many of us. But disappointment is finite; hope is infinite. Hope is either the second or third most important quality of mankind (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). We cannot live without hope. And our hope is found in a relationship with God.

• Hopelessness is demonic, dangerous and deadly. The temptation to surrender to hopelessness can be overwhelming. Even before the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that 1.4 million of us attempted suicide annually. One of 10 Americans take medication to combat depression. And what is substance abuse but a self-destructive attempt to numb the pain of hopelessness?

• Hope is the spiritual commodity that provides sustenance to the suffering soul. It does not come from this material world or from anything in it. Hope is a product and provision of the spiritual realm - a gift granted from God Almighty, and Him alone.

• If you focus your attention on things on this planet, you will be defeated, discouraged, disconnected and disgruntled. But if you look at the things of the Spirit, you will be delivered by the mighty hand of God.

• It's time to hope again!