Faith and Hope

 "He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God."

— 1 Peter 1:20-21

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

You were chosen before the creation of the world. You weren't God's "Plan B". You were The Plan all along. God the Father knew that His creation would need redemption and You were chosen as our Redeemer before the world even existed. You were revealed to mankind in these last times for my sake. I could have been born at any point in time, but God saw fit for me to exist in this time and place, as an eternal beneficiary of Your life, death, and resurrection in these last days.

Through You, I do believe in God. I believe in the One True God who raised You from the dead and glorified You. This is the God in whom I believe. Romans 4:17 describes God as "the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not." I believe in a God who resurrects. I believe in a God who restores life. I believe in a God who "calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (NKJV).

My faith and hope are in God—this God of resurrection life. My faith and hope are not in positive circumstances. My faith and hope are not in popularity. My faith and hope are not in success, growth, or increase. My faith and hope are in one singular place—the Person of Jesus Christ and my Mighty God. When all other potential sources of faith and hope fail me, I choose to thank God. Because if they had been successful, I would have trusted in them and turned away from God.

Gracious Lord, today I choose to place my faith and hope in You, my mighty God. No other source is worth trusting in. Any other object of faith or hope will fail me. My faith and hope are in You and You alone.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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