The Bible tells us to expect different seasons in life (Ecc 3) and boy have there been a few seasons in my life this year! Change is not looked upon well by the world but as there have been so many changes during and still to come this year I've had to think about how I view Change.

We all have 'set' changes like the school year start/end, changes in jobs/families, retirement, the list goes on. BUT God trells us that He is unchanging (Malachi 3:6). He is our rock and shelter. Jesus said He will never leave us (John 14:18).

So I'm looking at Change and I'm remembering that throughout it all, I'm not alone, I'm not lost, I'm not finished, I do not need to waiver in my faith.

Change comes to us all but the challenge is how we face each Change.

Even though I've been saved for a while there are some lessons I need to learn again (and again!).

Today I remind myself that the Lord is my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust (Ps 91:2) and I am more than able to continue because of who God is. Being faithful to God in this way I hope to give Him the glory.

For this weeks encouragement I’d simply like to share a song with you.

I have been listening to it on repeat for a few days now and trust it will bless you as it has me.

Our thanksgiving to God is the greatest antidote to so many of life’s troubles.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=488HEflx2ao

The word says in 1 Cor 13:13, Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love.

I feel like out of these three hope can be the first thing to go, quickly followed by faith.

What is hope?

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. A feeling of trust in our Lord which is often referred to as an anchor for our souls.

There's nothing worse than a feeling of hopelessness. It robs you of joy, peace and confidance in anything you believe God has said. Basically, allowing ourselves to be robbed of hope, is playing right into the hands of the enemy allowing him to have a field day in our lives.

Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Abraham and Sarah waited a long time for God's promise to them to be realised, but they stayed hopeful. This is the truth of what a promise to them or to us looks like.....

Hebrews 6:18- So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 

They never gave up hope, because they had confidence in what God had spoken.

Even as you're reading this you may have a 'but' or 'what if' in your thoughts.

It is in these moments we need to draw closer to Him, because it is in doing this, being in His presence, that our confidence and faith grows.

Hope isn't about our expectations or solving or fixing our problems. Instead, it’s the confidence that God is with you at all times and that He will carry you through whatever your situation.

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So let's be encouraged...

Hebrews 10:23

23 -  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Amen 🙌

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

The enemy wants us to feel bad about ourselves, compare ourselves to others, be jealous and envious, hide our light under a bushel so others won't feel bad, live small, only look after ourselves, be fearful.

God wants us to branch out, to go for it, to live to the max, to excel, to rejoice, to burst forth, to be free, to thrive. God wants us to enjoy ourselves. He wants us to know we're loved abundantly and he loves to surprise and bless us.

These are the two camps we can live in and it's easy to fall into the one the enemy wants us to, because he's working day and night to say to us, "We’re nothing special", "Who are we to do this, or do that", "God has short-changed us", "We're left behind", "We'll never overcome that difficulty", "We don't have enough" and, "We're not enough".

But this is all a smoke-screen of lies we have to daily rebuke in Jesus name to stand up and remember...

1. We are dearly loved by God

2. Great are His plans for us to prosper us not to harm us

3. We are the lights of the world

4. He is our shepherd and we have all that we need

5. He'll never leave us or forsake us

6. We are the sheep of his fold and there's nothing that can seperate us

7. No eye has seen or ear has heard all he has in store for us.

Sometimes life gets so hard and we get weary but the God who is more than enough will not leave us there, He's with us in it, He's fighting our battles and He's already planned the victory. Hold on, be strong and see what the Lord will do...