| Know that stepping out — with God — to do battle will strengthen your faith and grow your hope.— Jack Countryman, The Power of Hope  Hoping in Our Sovereign God by Jack Countryman, from The Power of Hope 
 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen. — Esther 2:16-17
Esther
God often demonstrates His grace to His children by giving us not only unexpected blessings but also unexpected power or influence. Whenever the latter happens, it is no accident. That power or influence is the plan of our sovereign God.
It was, for instance, His sovereign hand that placed Esther on the throne in Persia, a position that gave Esther an opportunity to live out in a bold way the strength she found when she placed her hope in God. Queen Esther risked her life by going — uninvited — before the king to arrange a time when she could ask him to prevent the genocide of her Jewish people. God showed her grace and favor when He prompted the king to show her grace and favor. And as He did for Esther, God will do for you whenever you boldly live out your hope in your sovereign God.
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GROWING HOPE
Gideon said to God, "If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said — look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said." And it was so… Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. — Judges 6:36-40
Gideon
As Gideon hid in a winepress to thresh his wheat — so his Midianite enemies wouldn't steal it — God called Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal and then to save Israel from the Midianites. Similar to reluctant Moses, Gideon said, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel?" (Judges 6:15). Clearly Gideon's doubts outweighed whatever hope he had in the Almighty. Hence the fleece.
God agreed to Gideon's test and delivered — twice! Whether from a lack of trust in God, a lack of courage, or both, Gideon clearly didn't want to lead Israel against the Midianites and Amalekites. But when he did, he saw that God was true to His promise "I will be with you" (Judges 6:16).
The Lord may have a big assignment for you just as He had for Gideon. Know that stepping out — with God — to do battle will strengthen your faith and grow your hope.
* A PRAYER OF HEARTFELT HOPE
[Hannah] was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." — 1 Samuel 1:10-11
Hannah
She had undoubtedly watched relatives and friends have babies. Her husband's other wife had several sons and daughters — and lorded them over her barren rival. Oh, how Hannah longed for a baby of her own. During one of the family's annual trips to the tabernacle, Hannah prayed to the Lord.
Overcome by great anguish and that profound heartache she had known for far too long, she once again asked almighty God for a son. Out of profound gratitude should God give her a child, Hannah vowed to give him to the Lord. Her beloved son would live, work, and learn in the tabernacle. Nine months later, Hannah bore a son — named Samuel — who grew up to be a prophet and judge over all of Israel.
Our gracious God granted Hannah the son she had prayed for with heartfelt hope and trust in the Lord. May we learn from her example. Excerpted with permission from The Power of Hope by Jack Countryman, copyright Jack Countryman.
Your Turn
Hope in the Lord! No matter what your circumstances are, no matter how frightful or desperate, put your hope in Him. Learn from the examples God has given us in His Word from our early brothers and sisters in the Family and trust Him! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you about hope ~ Devotionals Daily Share this devotion with someone who needs it today. There Is Hope in Every Day in Jesus
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by Jack Countryman  Hardcover, Regular: $16.99 eBook price: $9.99 + free U.S. shipping* with code HEART World headlines and our personal struggles can leave us feeling weary and anxious. But life's questions and our emotions are not new to God. If you are feeling exhausted, worried, or lonely or are facing life's difficulties, The Power of Hope by Jack Countryman offers a beautiful reminder that the same God who comforted and blessed the people of the Bible can offer you transformation and peace today.
In this beautiful book, Jack Countryman explores how Bible characters responded to adversity with a faith in God that brought them hope--not necessarily because their circumstances changed but because their focus changed. Regardless of what you're facing today, you can have the same hope as Abraham, Mary, and Paul that God . . .
The Power of Hope is a perfect self-purchase or gift for men and women who need a reminder that God is by their side. It includes . . .
Let God draw you nearer to Him through the ordinary lives of men and women in the Bible. Like them, you can know hope in every situation. Because the same God who held them close holds you now. Looking for more resources from Jack?
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