Looking Forward in Hope
Today’s Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Hope is not just a feeling or wishful thinking; it is a gift from God, rooted in His promises and faithfulness. As Lutherans, we believe that our hope is grounded in Christ alone. In the darkest moments of life, when despair threatens to overwhelm us, we can cling to the unchanging truth that God is working for our good.
The world’s hope often depends on circumstances or human effort, but the hope we have in Christ is certain because it is based on His finished work on the cross. Jesus’ resurrection assures us that sin, death, and suffering do not have the final word. Through faith, we are united with Him and can look forward to an eternal future where every tear will be wiped away.
This hope sustains us even now. It gives us strength to endure trials, courage to face the unknown, and peace in the midst of uncertainty. As Paul writes in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious and loving God, thank You for the gift of hope that comes through Your Son, Jesus Christ. When life feels uncertain, remind us of Your promises and help us to trust in Your plans. Strengthen our hearts with the assurance of Your faithfulness, so that we may live each day in hope and share that hope with others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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