“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long – though I know not how to relate them all.” Psalms 71:14-15 NIV

I have some of hummingbird feeders in my front yard. I love to watch them “hum” around the feeders and the flowers planted underneath. I have one special bird that comes back each year in May. She will let me know when the feeders are empty (if I haven’t noticed soon enough). If I’m sitting on the patio, she will come to the screen and hover for a minute or so looking in. If I’m in the house, she will come to one of two windows and do the same thing. She has hope that I will continue to fill the feeders just as I have in the past.

Just as I take care of the hummingbirds, our Lord takes care of us. His word gives us hope. Hope is the expectation that God will fulfill His promises to us. The Bible tells us God’s promises.. God promises us that He will always be with us and that He will work all things for our good. God promises us that He will provide for us and give us strength. God promises that one day we will be in heaven with Him and Jesus. Awesome!

Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t have any problems or troubles. Jesus actually promises us that we will have troubles. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b Jesus also promises us that He will be with us. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b This means that Jesus is with us even in our troubles. He can give us strength and wisdom to handle our problems.

Our response to the hope we have in God and Jesus, is praise. We thank Them for our family, for all the good things in our lives. We thank Them for strength to get through tough times. We sing songs of praise in church. We praise Them when we tell others all They have done for us.

This week fold a piece of paper in half, write “Hope” on one side and “Praise” on the other side. You can draw a picture or write words for a hope you have with the Lord on the “Hope” side and a praise you give to the Lord on the “Praise” side. And then share your hope and your praise with someone else.

Blessings as you have hope and give praise!