“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more” - Psalm 71:14 (NIV).
A bestselling book written by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken, that sold over 10 million copies worldwide, is about a fighter jet during World War 11 that crashed in the Pacific. Out of its 11 crew only three survived the crash. Louise, Phil and Mac swam on to a raft.
Louise was a legendary Olympic marathoner who wished after the war to go back and compete in the next Olympic 5,000 marathon race. Phil had joined the war after being engaged to his childhood school sweet heart, Cecy, and was impatient to get back home, marry and start a family. But Mac didn’t have much of a story. Once they got on the raft his mates had to restrain him as he kept screaming, “we are going to die!”
Lost at sea, the trio survived on rain water (they couldn’t take salty sea water) and scooping out fish, which they ate raw, while fighting off sharks. Louise and Phil were always hopeful they would make it, because of the life they wanted to return to. Mac didn’t have any hope. He kept confessing death. And sadly, but surely, he died on the 34th day at sea.
Left alone, the pair, Louse and Phil would drift for a record 47 days till the raft hit an island. Captured by the Japanese, their ordeal was not over. They were imprisoned for two and half years under extremely harsh conditions. But finally, once the war came to an end in August,1945 they were released and the two soldiers, who had been before reported dead, returned to their ecstatic families.
Hope is what saved them. The Bible describes hope as one of the major gifts we have as Christians - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love..(1 Cor. 13:13). Paul wrote to the Romans, “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). He later went on to explain, “hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Rom. 8:24-25)
When people are hit with trials one of the greatest weapon they need for survival is hope. Everyone these days talks of building immunity against Covid -19. yet there is no immunity as effective as hope. Once one loses hope there goes a life. The beauty of being a Christian is that those that believe carry within them that hope of a risen Christ wherever they go.
Today, do not lose that hope, regardless of whatever circumstances. Keep hope alive for hope will get you through any dangerous seas.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for the hope you have given me through Christ Jesus, which empowers me to live on joyfully, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
