{"id":482,"date":"2017-05-27T13:03:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-27T13:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hispreciousgift.com\/wordpress\/?p=482"},"modified":"2017-05-27T13:03:21","modified_gmt":"2017-05-27T13:03:21","slug":"jesus-our-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hispreciousgift.com\/wordpress\/jesus-our-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"JESUS OUR HOPE"},"content":{"rendered":"

JESUS OUR HOPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As I was riding down the highway of life with my Beloved Jesus one day, a stranger was hitchhiking and wanted us to stop. As we slowed down and pulled over to see what he wanted, the stranger asked, \u201cCan I get a ride to the nearest gas station, my car ran out of gas; the gas station is only about five miles?\u201d Since Jesus was driving, I asked him, \u201cWhat do you think my Lord, should we give him a ride?\u201d As I looked at Jesus\u2019 face, I could tell He really didn\u2019t want the young man to ride with us, but I ignored<\/em> his wishes and invited him to ride with us anyway. I said, \u201cYes sir, get in the back seat.\u201d As we traveled down the road not even 500 yards, the man began to speak. \u201cYou know, if you keep driving down this road you are going to get a flat tire or your engine is going to catch fire. You both should know the next restrooms are 20 miles away.\u201d The man continued, \u201cI had a puppy who didn\u2019t like dog food so I fed him table food; one day, he died.\u201d The man rambled on, \u201cI don\u2019t think people like me; so I usually keep to myself. I have headaches each morning when I wake up, so I sleep most of the day to keep the headaches away.\u201d The man clamored and complained about life for three miles. On the fourth mile, the man said, \u201cThe interior of this car is getting real old, you may want to get a new car. I don\u2019t like the color of the blouse you are wearing young lady, have you thought about getting another one?\u201d I felt overwhelmed by the negativity coming from the man\u2019s mouth. I yelled to Jesus, \u201cPull over and let this man out!\u201d But Jesus replied, \u201cNo my love, we have one more mile to go.\u201d Suddenly, another man waved at us as we were going down the highway. I ignored him but Jesus pulled over and stopped. This man was different. When he approached the car, he was smiling with a kind look on his face, he asked? \u201cSir, my car broke down and I just need a lift to the nearest gas station located a mile away, do you mind giving me a ride?\u201d I looked at Jesus, he had a smile on His face this time. Jesus answered, \u201cOf course, get in the front<\/em> seat with us.\u201d So I slid over near my Lord as the man got in and he stared out the window. \u201cToday is a beautiful day for my car to break down because a storm came through our town last night, I could\u2019ve been caught in that bad weather. Our town is grateful no one was hurt.\u201d The sweet man continued, \u201cI heard of an accident on the highway a few miles back, thank the Lord it was just a minor incident.\u201d \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get my car up and running again, my daughter is in a play tonight and I can\u2019t wait to see her performance\u201d the man explained. As the car approached the gas station, both men got out. The first man said, \u201cI thought you would have driven faster, but you didn\u2019t, so\u2026 I guess the next time I will get a ride with someone who can drive as fast as I prefer.\u201d The second man said, \u201cThank you both for giving me a ride, here is money for gas, I truly appreciate it.\u201d Jesus responded, \u201cSir, what a joy, and pleasure it was to spend time with you. You are welcome in my presence anytime.\u201d To the other man, Jesus said not one word. Then Jesus looked at me and said, \u201cMy Love, even though I am the driver of your car, I want you to decide which passenger will\u00a0ride in our<\/strong> car each day\u2026 it will always be your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This story is about two passengers wanting to ride in the car of our souls each day. One, as you heard was \u2018discouragement.\u2019<\/em> You know his voice because he is always looking at life through negative lenses\u2026 the eyes of the flesh<\/em>. He is the murmurer, the complainer, the one who stirs up trouble, and anxiety within us. He is never quiet. He steals our peace and confidence in the Lord that things will<\/strong> get better, and circumstances are serving our Father\u2019s purposes. There is always a commotion going on whenever you are in his presence. \u2018Discouragement\u2019<\/em> can never hear the voice of truth or reason. If you listen to him too long, he will drive you right off the road into a ditch with his friends: self-pity, despair, and depression. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Secondly, the other man who asked for a ride was \u2018hope.\u2019 \u2018Hope\u2019<\/em> was like a beautiful fragrance permeating through the car, even though at first the car\u2019s atmosphere felt like a sewer. \u2018Discouragement\u2019<\/em> left a foul odor in the car with all of his clamoring, but, when \u2018hope\u2019 <\/em>got into the car, the whole atmosphere changed. \u2018Hope\u2019<\/em> is powerful! \u2018Hope\u2019<\/em> is the character of our Lord which lifts us up no matter how bad things are going wrong; he gives the soul wings to rise above the circumstances. \u2018Hope\u2019<\/em> breathes life into our dead and barren places then exchanges our weakness for our Lord\u2019s strength and courage to move onward. A beautiful scripture came to mind when I thought of this story, Psalm 42:11<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The scripture was about David sitting in the car with \u2018discouragement.\u2019 <\/em>David listened to the negative stories he was telling him. But, David sat with him a little too long because he was, what we call \u201cdown in the dumps.\u201d <\/em>But after sitting there for a while, the ‘Voice\u00a0of Hope’<\/strong> spoke to his spirit, then David spoke<\/strong> to his soul (thoughts and emotions) \u201cSoul, why have you been listening to discouragement and look, you are all depressed, cast down, head hanging low like God has forgotten you? Hope, look confidently, expectantly, and wait for the Lord. Then the Spirit spoke to David\u2019s soul (will) YES WE WILL PRAISE HIM and LOOK TO HIM\u00a0because He is the one who is our HOPE, SALVATION, and DELIVERER IN ALL THINGS.\u201d (Tresca paraphrase.) <\/em><\/p>\n

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Prayer:<\/strong> Thank you, Jesus, for teaching me how to discern your voice from the enemy\u2019s voice. I find myself listening to his voice without even realizing it. I am so grateful when I turn to you, discouragement leaves, but when I don\u2019t, I am left with not only discouragement but self-pity, despair, and depression. Today I choose HOPE, I choose to listen to the voice of HOPE IN YOU and deny the voice of discouragement. AMEN<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JESUS OUR HOPE   As I was riding down the highway of life with my Beloved Jesus one day, a stranger was hitchhiking and wanted us to stop. As we slowed down and pulled over to see what he wanted, the stranger asked, \u201cCan I get a ride to the nearest gas station, my car ran out of gas; the gas station is only about five miles?\u201d Since Jesus was driving, I asked him, \u201cWhat do you think my Lord,…<\/p>\n

Read More Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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