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“Hope On Promises Expectantly! (H.O.P.E)!”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Editors Note: This devotional was originally sent through email on Tuesday, November 12, 1998 at 10:12:26 p.m. to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) students and others who wanted to receive daily devotionals at the University of Pittsburgh while I was serving at IVCF! It is being republished on Pittsburgh Standard today. The background songs can be from any area including the present!

SCRIPTURE:
"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, My Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:5)

I do not know about you but it can be so easy to get down, being downcast and disturbed. We do not live in a world where happiness is secure. But we do live in a world where the Lord Jesus Himself has walked and He knows our pain and our sorrow. He knows the time when we cannot even get up because the depression weighs us down so much. It is easy for that to happen when things do not go our way. There is hope in times of distress.

As the psalmist reminds us, let us not dwell in our depression but let us put our hope in God. Hope in God! Hoping in God is not like wishful thinking as we use hope sometimes by saying, "I hope so!." There is so much uncertainty in that statement. This is not the way with God. We can hope in God and be confident that He who began a good work in us will finish it to completion.

God inhabits the praises of His people. It is amazing when you are down if you just praise God, what difference it can make. Our praise of God should not be based on our happiness and things going our way. Even when everything seems to be going wrong and falling part, God deserves our praise because He is the Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth who for our sake sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary into this life so that we can have Light in Him. He will be your hope no matter what you face, so cheer up even when you do not know where your life is going because you are in the Master's Loving Hands.

Few years ago, I went to an interview and realized I completely messed up.  I was downcast and my mind was disturbed. It is at that time I remembered a sermon on praising God even when things are going wrong. I decided to do that! Few months ago before the interview, my mom had given me a book on worship called 'The Dynamics of Worship'. I had learned different characteristics of Jehovah and just started praising Him. I lifted my arms up, while in downtown, regardless of who was watching and just started praising Jehovah remembering His characteristics that came to my mind from the list below:

            You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider

            You are Jehovah-Nissi, my Banner

            You are Jehovah-Shalom, my Peace

            You are Jehovah-Rophe, my Healer

            You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord my Righteousness

            You are Jehovah-M'kaddesh, my Sanctifier

            You are Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is ever present.

            You are Jehovah-Rohi, my Good Shepherd.

            You are Jehovah-Elyon, the Lord Most High.

            You are Jehovah-Hoseenu, the Lord our Maker.

            You are Jehovah-Eloheenu, the Lord our God.

            You are Jehovah-Elohim, the Lord God.

            You are Jehovah-Eloheka, the Lord God of Israel

            You are Jehovah-Elohay, the Lord my God.

        You are Jehovah-Sabboth, the Lord of all hosts of Heaven and earth! Amen!

An amazing thing happened while I was praising God through my despair. It was like I saw the image of Hands reaching out to me while I was in despair as I kept praising the Lord. For me those hands represented the Helping Hands of Jesus reaching out to me and reminding me that He will help me through these rough times. That day marked the day when I got the idea for a weekly tracts' name. It came to be known as 'Helping Hands' serving the Tri-State area with the love of Christ. The tracts have been made into a booklet now so you can borrow it if you want it. Currently, the tracts that have gone out have been called, 'Loving Hands'.

God is your Savior who loves you so much. He wants to reach out to you in your times of despair and give you strength and endurance to bear through the times. When you feel down and everything just makes you frown remember Jesus wants to always be your Light shining in the darkness helping you through the day or night showing you His ways are the best ways all of your days! Amen!

"Hope On Promises Expectantly (H.O.P.E)!/"Why H.O.P.E and praise the Lord in your distress?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you right now. Lord you know the times when we feel like we are just going to drown in our problems. This just makes us so depressed because things are not going right. We thank you that you understand and know what we go through. We thank you that in times of distress our soul, heart, and mind can find hope in you that will never fail. We are weak Lord and we need your strength. What we face in this world is not always easy as you know Lord. But we know that you are our Light that shines through the darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend it. We praise you Lord for who you are and for making us your children. We love you Lord and give ourselves to you. I pray right now for the one who is facing so much pain and hardship. I pray that your Hand would be upon their life and that you will bring them through this pain and you give them your strength. May we walk in your strength Lord knowing that you are our Savior and God. We do confess our sins to you and ask you to cleanse us with your cleansing Blood. Wash us Lord and we will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you Lord that you hear us and answer our prayers. In Your Name We Pray Jesus praising you and thanking you for everything! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you when you give Him your heart! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2013 DEVOTIONALS:

Psalm 40:1-5: "Where do you need to be L.I.F.T.E.D up in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 13, 01:34 p.m.)

Mark 9:28-29: "What can P.R.A.Y.E.R to Jesus do in your friends lives?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 11, 07:53 a.m.)

Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D will you be thought of as?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 10, 07:03 a.m.)

Mark 3:14-15: "Why S.P.E.N.D time with Jesus daily?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 08, 11:07 a.m.)

Psalm 34:4: "What can you do with your F.E.A.R.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 07, 2013, 8:43 a.m.)

Psalm 33:4: "What will you do with F.A.I.T.H in your classes?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 05, 2013, 9:31 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-44: "What does your disobedience C.A.U.S.E for others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 03, 2013, 2:57 a.m.)

Mark 1:41-42: "What past do you need to be C.L.E.A.N from?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 31, 2013, 10:54 a.m)

Proverbs 29:25: "Where will you take a S.T.A.N.D without wavering?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 30, 2013, 07:43 a.m)

Matthew 18:21-22:"Why F.O.R.G.I.V.E when it will happen again?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 29 2013, 09:35 a.m)

Psalm 27:14:"How do you C.O.P.E with your hurt?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

John 12:24:"Who do you remember physically and spiritually on this M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

"What has the law P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D you to do but it goes against the Lord?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 09, 2013, 6:57 a.m)

"Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 08, 2013, 6:58 a.m)

"What has A.N.G.E.R done to your relationships?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 29, 13, 1:28 p.m.)

"How can the L.I.G.H.T impact your life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 06, 13, 11:48 a.m.)