Dear brothers and sisters,

  By your own admission do you feel hopeless? Is it due to the huge weight of guilt on your shoulders? Are others influencing you so that it seems impossible to be a righteous believer? You try but only see your strength failing.

   Whether this comes on the words of false prophets or of our own choices, we must decide who we will believe. Even when the Lord spoke to the people in Jeremiah's day, they still chose to remain deceitful and wicked in their hearts. Jeremiah 19:9. There is still a chance for change.

   From generations that walked with God to the many, many who were rebellious with hard hearts, God still kept His Word. What He said He would do, became a reality. Even in taking His presence from Jerusalem and His Holy temple.

   What does this have to do with today? Back to the question, "Do you feel hopeless?" What is it about your circumstances that make you think God isn't the answer? Or you can't see because you have been blinded by the enemy.

   The people strayed in their affections. They turned to idols and then complained that God wouldn't bless them. There were 300-350 years of darkness where Israel rejected God as their King. In 1 Samuel 8:5 and then 15:23 you can see God giving them what they wanted. How did that turn out? Read on. There is more than one place where the people turned away from their only hope.

   David was God's choice to replace Saul. David had a heart for God. Yes, he really blew it a couple of times, but he discovered in his walk with God that even the sacrifices of bulls and goats couldn't bring relief to his weary, guilt-filled heart.

   As you already know, man fails. God does not! He became our Jehovah-tsidkenu, the God of our righteousness. He provided the perfect spotless lamb for the sacrifice that was His own Son, Jesus.

   With this new revelation there is a new covenant, the covenant of grace and with it you get a new heart! Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 8:6-13.

   Today I am so thankful for the resources I have to show me the way through God's amazing Word! I have written some of the names of God in the past. I pray you find a deeper insight into the character and heart of God for people. You are His prize!

   You are also His sheep. You will not want or lack for anything. He is Jehovah-raah, your Shepherd. He is Jehovah-jireh, your Provider. This is His name by which He will be called, The LORD our righteousness." Jeremiah 23:6. WE can be right with God! Righteous means to be straight; God is right and to live according to His standards. But, righteousness in man requires a new heart. That we can have!

   Leaving the way of your wrong path and stepping into God's grace, you will know what hope is. Ezekiel 36:26-27 gives us a wonderful promise...

   "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you: and I remove the heart of stone form your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

   The more I found myself committing my heart and mind to the ways of the world, the more hardened my heart became concerning God. My life became an endless cycle of sin and failure was always lurking to discourage me. Until...I turned all that junk over to Jesus and found myself with a heart that beat after the things of God! I felt like I could breathe again. Peace entered my thinking and I could discern the Truth from the lie.

   Read once more Jeremiah 23:1-6 where Jehovah-tsidkenu is first used. Then, become a sheep of the Shepherd and let Him lead you the rest of your days.

   Finally, for today, remember the Cross of Calvary. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

   Romans 3:22 says, "...even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe." Do you believe?

   Wonderful news! Have faith. Have hope. Have eternal peace as you place yourself in the hands of Mighty God. He loves and adores you and sent His only Son to save you from the grip of death and separation from His glorious home. Ask Him to be your LORD, your righteousness right now.

   We have the hope of home with Him! Think about this today as we close. Ask Jesus to fill you with more faith, a soft heart and ears to hear His precious Word. God bless you and keep you until we meet again. In His matchless name, amen.

   Abundance is...where the Lord is hope abounds