New Beginnings: You Gotta Have Hope

Finish this sentence: There is a person inside of me who wants to......
Then consider what fulfilling that desire would take. Probably somewhere in the list "hope" would show up. If not, it will need to. Why? Because whether it's a matter of fulfilling our desires or overcoming a difficulty or disappointment, hope is the fuel for moving forward.

Consider my friend Daniel. He and Kate, the love of his life, had finally decided that their careers, which has kept them 2000 miles apart for six year, had to take a back seat to their love for one another. Kate found a job in California and on New Year's Eve Daniel proposed and slipped a ring on her finger. New beginning! It seemed like the hope that had flickered but never died had at last been fulfilled. It was short-lived, though. On New Year's Day Daniel was out for a bike ride and was struct by a car. The driver left Daniel for dead.

Hope was hard to come by those next twelve months as Daniel struggled for life--for breath.
His body was broken and often it seemed that his spirit was too. Kate came to his bedside daily. She was tireless in speaking words of hope in Daniel's ear as he lay in an induced coma.
One year and 37 surgeries later, hope won out. Daniel miraculously walked out of the hospital. Keep the fire of hope burning!

Courage

Courage is the result of taking action in the face of fear.

A prayer: Lord, let my heart be aligned with Your ove today. Enliven and encourage me throughout the day. Give me the courage to say what needs to be said. Give me the faith to take action on my hopes and dreams.

Affirmation: Through the power of God in me, I know what to do and I do it.