Do Not Let Me Be Ashamed of My Hope

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Do Not Let Me Be Ashamed of My Hope

We obviously live in a world  with a multitude  of different feelings,  ideas,  goals,  ideals,  philosophies,  beliefs,  hopes,  aspirations,  and everything else  in the makeup of people.     If any of these parts  of our being  gets mocked,  laughed at,  scorned,  or ridiculed,  that means someone is trying  to put us  to shame.

Sometimes we need  to be put to shame,  if our walk does not coincide  with our talk.     But,  there are other times  when the world will mock Christians  just because they hate the idea  of a Savior — or maybe,  they see a Christian facing a hardship  and they take that opportunity  to knock down the concept  of the LORD  truly being  “The LORD”.     The Christian might feel  that life is hard enough  for everyone  without the extra burden  of an unbeliever mocking our faith.

The writer of Psalm 119 faced the same kind  of situation  and prayed  in Psalm 119:116,

Sustain me  according to Thy word,  that I may live   
And  do not let me be ashamed  of my hope.

When we are despondent  over our trials  and have someone mockingly ask,  “Where is your God  now?”  we need God’s sustaining power  to remain strong  in His truth.     God’s word sustains us.     All of God’s word proves  that our hope  in the Lord  is not in vain.     In God’s word  we have thousands of years  of history  laid out before us,  proving  that God is always faithful  and truly does keep all  of His promises.

When someone mocks  or questions our faith,  we can go  to our Bibles  for the comfort we need.     Reviewing and remembering  all that God has done  will revive our faith  and hope.     Then we will be assured  of our salvation  and full forgiveness  in Jesus Christ.     Seeing the power  of God  to do all things,  we will know  that we can really  rejoice  in our hope.     We don’t have anything  to be ashamed of.     Our  hope  in the Lord  is not in vain,  because it is truth.

Standing strong  in God’s truths  means we do need  to walk the talk.     That is why King David prayed  in Psalm 5:8,

O LORD,  lead me  in Thy righteousness  because  of my foes;   
Make Thy way straight before me.

Because unbelievers are always watching  for opportunities  to make us ashamed  of our hope,  we need the Lord  to lead us  in His righteousness.     We cannot depend  on our own strength  because we are sinners.     We must allow the LORD  to sustain us — and He has promised  that He would,  when we trust  in Him.

Resting in God’s powerful love,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  because You are holy,  You want all  of Your children  to be holy.     Victoriously lead us  in Your righteous ways,  that we may live our lives  to Your glory.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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