It’s Sunday night! Time to gear up for a new week. As always, the best way to do that is to PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD (Ephesians 6:10-18) but we also will focus on ONE area to strengthen our walk with the Lord. Just one focus to help us grow a faith that cannot fade with the demands of life and the pressures of this world. This week we will focus on HOPE!

When my daughter lay dying in the hospital, there was a general motto in the PICU: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I adopted that motto and lived it for another decade. One day I was sharing this philosophy with a gentleman I can only assume God put in my path because he didn’t mince words. “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. So, you mean to tell me that you get yourself all worked up over stuff that may never happen?” At first taken aback, I allowed his words to settle.

Was her death any easier because I allowed it to rattle around in my head as a possibility first? Not at all. Did I waste time preparing for her death instead of cherishing every moment of her life? Absolutely.

And what’s worse, I was still robbing myself of life by keeping this same attitude.

Preparing for the worst doesn’t make things easier. Holding on to hope- that hope that is found in Christ Jesus- is what gives us life.

Let go of your tightly wound fears this week and open up your heart to HOPE.