We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Kelly Bryant.
Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:18
“…as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Word:
Remember being a kid during the holidays? I remember the anticipation of making a Christmas list, leaving treats for Santa, and waking up before the sun rose to open gifts. As exciting as the holidays felt to me as a child, I can also remember the feeling like it was over way too soon. For weeks, I placed all my hope in an event that would be over in a matter of minutes.
We’re all grown up now, but we still deal with similar feelings. Have you ever felt disappointed when you placed your hope in another person? How about in a job, the government, or even a church? In her book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa Terkeurst dedicates the whole first chapter to explaining that we’re living life between two gardens. She goes on to say that although the disappointments we face in this life hurt, they actually draw our hearts closer to our true home in Heaven.
We hope for things to be perfect here on Earth because we were originally created to live in paradise with our Creator. When God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, He created them to commune with Him (Genesis 1). Heart, mind, and body, humans were created to live in a paradise with no shame, no suffering, and no evil. When sin entered into the World, Adam and Eve were kicked out of the paradise of the Garden of Eden, but that didn’t take away their desire for it.
Deep down, we all still have that desire for perfection. We have a sense that our life here on Earth isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. No matter who or what we place our hope in here, it will fade away. Even the “good” things of this world can’t fully satisfy. Instead of placing our hope in things that are temporary, let’s place our hope in the things that will last forever. When our hope rests in our Savior, we can handle life’s disappointments.
Prayer:
Father, help me to remember that I am a citizen of Your Kingdom living here on the Earth. Help me to focus my hope on the things that will last forever. Reshape my heart and my desires to look like Yours. I don’t want to waste time sinking my hope into things that won’t last. I want a hope that is rooted in You. Draw me close to You until the day my soul joins You in the perfection of Heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Skillwork:
Take a look at your list of New Year’s goals. Do any of your goals have eternal value? If not, ask God to show you how you can start working towards goals that will last forever.
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