1. My Hope in God
Psalm 16
Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
In June 1953 I placed my hope in God. At that time the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Repent, repent. Lynn, you are a sinner. Christ died for your sins. He rose again that you might live.” I knelt by my bed and Jesus Christ came into my heart and life. He gives me hope, peace and joy.
He gave me His righteousness. In myself I am unworthy of the least of His mercies. Any goodness in me is what the Lord placed in me. He gave me the gift of salvation. This took away my sin and gave me His righteousness. This gives me hope.
This does not mean He took away my sin nature. However, He gave me a new nature. This causes an inward conflict. Which one wins? It’s like I have two dogs. The one wins to whom I say “sickem”. I want the new nature to win, but Satan tempts me and sometimes the old nature wins that battle. When I confess that sin, God forgives me, and makes me clean inside. This fills me with hope.
The Lord is my portion. In other words He made me His heir. I do not know nor understand of what all this inheritance consists, but He promises it is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). When I pass from this present life, I will receive it. Oh, what hope, and what joy!
The Lord gives me counsel. With it He gives me a choice. I can choose to follow His counsel from His Word, or ignore it. He blesses me when I am teachable and obey His will. This gives me hope.
The Lord always goes before me. He promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). When I have troubles, He knows all about them. He faced problems, as I do, when He walked upon this earth. Because He has been there, He understands all my ups and downs. I am so glad He’s there and helps me go through my trials. Hope comes into my soul when I know He is with me.
At times in my life, my emotions went out of control. I wept and could not restrain myself from weeping. I lost a loved one and could not weep. Since that time, God has helped me greatly. Now my heart is fixed. It is like when I alter a garment. Now it fits me. When my heart is fixed, I am not torn up emotionally. God has given me stability. When this happens in my life, it gives me great hope.
David wrote this psalm. It looked forward to Christ’s coming in the flesh. They laid His body in the grave, but it did not see corruption (Psalm 16:11; Acts 2:25-28). After His resurrection, His heart filled with joy. Many shall turn to Him as Saviour and Lord before He returns in glory. This was the “joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2).
In conclusion God showed me the path of life. In His presence there is fullness of joy. In Heaven pleasures await me forevermore. This is my sure hope. All who come to Him in faith become His children. He gives them hope. He wants you to enjoy this hope.
Lynn and Leon, her beloved husband, served as missionaries to the Navajo Indian for several years. After God took her honey to Heaven, He called her to write for Him. Many of her articles found publication, and two Sunday School curriculum packages. Ambassador International published her first book, Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women. More information is available at www.writingfrommyheart.com.
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