Hope for a Christian is different than for anyone else.

Because our life has been changed by the Atonement provided by the Lord God Almighty through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, 

Because our life has been changed by the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, 

Because our life has been changed by God's Word and His indwelling Holy Spirit, 

We have an eternal and internal hope that never leaves us.

We have put our hope in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:3-6

        IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS VERY SURE HOPE (Hebrews 6:19),

Then you must first become a Christian, that is, you must become God's adopted child whom He will never abandon or forsake.   Salvation, New Creature, Come to Me, Everlasting Love, 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6                Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10           Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Next, you must walk with your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, out of love, obedience, and gratitude for His snatching you from hell.  Your relationship with God is now a real and personal relationship.  

You must live your life our of Jesus' righteousness and not of your "good works and efforts" to gain you heaven.  God has already provided that, but God wants you to yoke yourself with Jesus, to learn from Him and live with Him.  

As you grow as a Christian, you will see God's handiwork in your heart, mind, attitudes and life around you.  As you grow and change in your sanctification, you will see God more and more clearly, knowing Him better and better, and as you surrender more of the sin you grow to realize you have, confessing and repenting of it, you will see God's glory shine more through you, His ever cleaner vessel and ambassador.  

Remember: 

        In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for Whom and through Whom everything exists, should make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10

        "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's one and only Son. (Who is Jesus Christ.) John 3:16-18

        In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. … For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father's side, has made Him known. John 1:1-18

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

But Jesus said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Bring me to a Living Hope 

Practical Methods for a New Life. 

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Deuteronomy 8:3, Matt 4:4       "I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24   Jesus said, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The Words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life."      Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:63,68

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to My people, My chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.  Isa 43:18-21   Read aloud Psalm 34 and Psalm 66 , But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3  I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. Psalm 108:3            Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. Psalm 117:1

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4       Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11       "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8 Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7

Do not conform any longer 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   "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16            Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1Peter 1:13,14

 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5         I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king." Daniel 2:23

What does God know? read Job 38-41 and Psalm 139  

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. Ephesians 1:17

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9

“ The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jer 17:9,10 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "  Matt 15:18-20   For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

O righteous God, Who searches minds and hearts, Psalm 7:9

All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? Proverbs 20:9

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; Psalm 26:2

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:2-10

God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11,12 

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new Spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Then they will follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws. They will be My people, and I will be their God.  But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."  Ezekiel 11:19-21

 I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone. Psalm 71:16         My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7          It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Romans 9:16     

          Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight and will direct your paths. Prov 3:5,6          

          But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36     So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12        Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13  But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  1 Peter 4:5 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, Hebrews 9:27

'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' " Job 28:28  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10            The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7        "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

If anyone is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."  Luke 9:26,27       If anyone is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels."  Mark 8:38 

Do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in. Proverbs 3:11,12

Fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7   A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. Proverbs 15:5  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:1  A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise. Proverbs 15:12  Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 9:8

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

The Bible is "for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 

for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young- 

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- "  Prov 1:2-5 

  This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  1 John 4:9, 10                How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (Atonement) The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who  have been called according to his purpose. ... If God is for us, who can be against us? ... For ... neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:28-39 

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