Living Hope

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

— 1 Peter 1:3

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Hope that is alive is hope that is placed squarely upon the resurrection. That is the definition of hope! Hope isn't merely wishing for a preferred future. Hope is bedrock belief that what once was dead is now alive. Jesus Christ who once was dead is now alive! My spirit which once was dead is now alive! Situations and circumstances that now appear as dead, God can make alive!

In God's great mercy, I have been given a new birth. I once was spiritually dead, but God found me, delivered me from death through Jesus Christ and has given me a living hope. When my hope begins to wane, I must relocate my hope into the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because in you, Lord Jesus, I have hope that is living!

Without the resurrection, there is no hope. Without the resurrection there is no new birth. Without the resurrection I am hopelessly dead. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he did not leave me hopelessly dead. He has made me fully alive and given me living hope!

Gracious Lord, today I pray for those who presently are navigating this life hopelessly dead. By God's great mercy may those loved ones be found by You, be given new birth, and be delivered into a living hope through Your resurrection from the dead.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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