Remain Hopeful by Ann Elaine Broughton

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).

My husband and I have been watching the Winter Olympics on television and many of the stories of the medalists are very inspirational. One in particular reminded me of someone who had hope at a very early age. When Julia Mancuso was a child she drew a picture of herself winning the gold medal. She had hope and believed that she could accomplish this. She also worked very hard towards her goal. In 2006 at the Turin Olympics she won her first gold medal even with a painful knee.
As a Christian you have a reason to have hope. Of course your ultimate hope is eternal life, but you should also have hope that what you do for the Lord will not be done in vain. There may be times when obstacles come your way, but you should never give up on doing the Lord’s will. Whatever work He has given you, He will also give you the stamina and strength to complete it. Just have hope and believe that the outcome will be a blessing to the Lord. Let the example of Noah, among many others, be your inspiration. Noah was told by God to build an ark in a place where rain had never even fallen. He withstood ridicule for 100 years while he built it, but he never stopped. He believed and had hope that what God told him would surely come to pass and it did. There was a flood that destroyed everything. He had to wait and persevere and not give up hope. What the Lord promises He always fulfills. Take hope and keep working towards the goal the Lord has put in your heart. Trust the Lord to give you the strength you need. At the end of this life you will receive something far better than a gold medal if you follow the Lord’s will for you. As you bend down before the Lord, a crown of eternal life will be given you, something that is far more valuable than a gold medal. (Rev. 2:11 NIV). So keep the faith and hold on to hope. God is with you.
Dear Lord,
Help me to have hope as I strive to do your will in my life. Sometimes it is difficult to remain hopeful, especially when obstacles come before me, but I know that you have a plan so I will continue to do what is pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

A Pure Heart by Ann Elaine Broughton

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8 NIV).

If you notice there is much concern in our society with the state of your heart. Doctors urge us to exercise, eat right, and watch the dreaded cholesterol. Since the heart is what keeps us alive, we have a greater tendency to want to take care of it, but it also is the seat of our spiritual life. In the Bible there are many references regarding the heart and how God views it to see how we stack up spiritually. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but God the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) How does your heart measure up?
David gave his son, Solomon sound advice about God's knowledge of his heart and his motives. "And you my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts" (1 Ch 28:9 NIV). Sobering isn't it? God knows you inside and out. There is nothing that you can keep from him.
How can you make your heart pure? Reading the Bible will help you keep your heart pure because it tells you how you should live as a Christian. In the parable of the sower Jesus speaks about the seed that was planted in good soil. "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop" (Luke 8:15 NIV).
I know that your life can get pretty hectic, and sometimes it is easy to forget to study the Bible and pray. It is so essential to do these things in order to have the kind of relationship with the Lord that you need in order to have a pure heart. This week make a conscience effort to read the Bible every day, pray, and do what you know is pleasing to the Lord.
Dear Lord,
Help us as we strive to have pure hearts. Help us to take time to read the Bible and pray so that when you look at our hearts you will see only pure motives. We know that you can help us as we strive to do your will.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

God's Purpose For You by Ann Elaine Broughton

"…… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:4-6 NIV).

Paul wrote this to the Philippians after they sent a gift to him. He was in chains and a prisoner because of his faith in Christ at the time of this writing. He knew what it was like to complete a good work for the Lord even when he was a prisoner. In spite of his chains, he was able to be a witness for Christ. We wouldn't have many of the letters of the New Testament if he hadn't been in prison. He felt that the good work Christ gave him to do was being carried out even in his chains. Isn't that astounding?

When was the last time you rejoiced when you were in the midst of your own "chains"? Do you have the faith to carry on His good work to completion that he set before you even when it seems tremendously difficult? Remember God is your strength and will use you in a great way. God has begun a good work in you also, and you must trust Him to help you. When you feel as if your work is burdensome, just remember Paul locked up in chains and rejoicing that God was working through him even as a prisoner. Carry out to completion what God has set before you and rejoice that He has given you this opportunity to grow as a Christian.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving each of us a work to do. We believe that you will help us carry out this work to completion no matter how difficult it is. Let us rejoice that you have given us this responsibility and help us to know that you will never fail us.
In Jesus' name,
Amen

The Lord's Compassion by Ann Elaine Broughton

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8 NIV).

Elijah, (1 Kings 18 and 19) was a prophet who learned firsthand about God's compassion. You see Elijah had a melt down. He was scared, even though God showed his mighty power in front of everyone by sending fire down and consuming a sacrifice. But you see, even a prophet of God can have a moment of panic. After God showed his mighty power, Elijah had all the prophets of Baal, an idol, killed. A very nasty queen named Jezebel sent a message to Elijah that she would have him killed just like he killed her prophets. You might say that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Elijah. He was scared and he ran for his life. He went into the desert and collapsed. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV).

Now God could have been angry at this wayward behavior of his chosen prophet, but here is where we can be encouraged. Instead of being angry with Elijah, he showed him mercy and kindness. God sent an angel to Elijah to give him food and nourishment because God still had a job for Elijah. He also knew that Elijah needed help and comfort.

There are times in all of our lives when we feel like Elijah....wanting to give up because our problems seem insurmountable. We can take heart from this story of Elijah that God knows what we are going through and will give us the strength to keep on doing His will if we ask Him. He isn't angry with us, but is filled with compassion because He loves us.
So when you want to run away like Elijah, remember that God is with you. Tell Him what is bothering you and then trust Him to have compassion and feed your soul with peace. It will come, that I promise. God's love never fails.

Dear Lord,
Help us when we feel like the world is crashing in on us. Let us feel your compassion and know that you can give us the strength we need to follow your will for our lives. When we feel like giving up, fill us with courage that only you can give. Thank you for hearing our prayers and giving us your peace.
In Jesus' name,
Amen