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Scriptures That Give Me Hope 

For Scriptures that I like to keep in mind, first are the Scriptures that give me hope. For relationships that are strained, and my efforts do not seem to bring any change, I think of Proverbs 16:7, which says “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (NKJV). No matter how impossible a situation may seem, this verse reminds me that first and foremost it is my relationship with Jesus Christ that matters most in life. He is able to change circumstances at any time once my relationship with Him is in order. Unfortunately, I have only heard this Scripture once at church in over 50 years of going to church. However, I was blessed to hear this verse several times at Bible conferences when I was a teenager, so the verse has stayed with me. 

Other scriptures that remind me of how (only) God can change circumstances despite my mistakes include Joel 2:25, which says, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (NKJV). As with many scriptures of hope (Joel 2:25), they are often preceded by calls for repentance (Joel 2:12-13). If we repent, God will often restore, although it is possible that God may sometimes have reasons to not restore.

Another scripture that speaks of God’s ability to turn a situation around is Isaiah 61:3, “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (NKJV). In the context of this verse, those who mourn are mourning over their sin in the light of the arrival of the Messiah (Jesus), a godly sorrow that leads to repentance and salvation, similar to Matthew 5:6. Although it may take time, my God, Jesus Christ, is powerful enough to create beauty where my mistakes have made ashes of a situation.    

Scriptures That Talk about God’s Direction  

Like so many others, I want God to direct my life, and the specific decisions that I make, so that I achieve what He wants me to achieve. To receive God’s direction, I like to remember the well-known verse of Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (NKJV). That reflects the importance of evangelism, proclaiming the name of Jesus, and identifying with Christ whenever and wherever I get the opportunity.

Having my heart and life right with the Lord also is important in the Lord accomplishing all that He wants to achieve through me. Accordingly, an important scripture about that is John 12:24, which records Jesus saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (NKJV). This verse reminds me that I continually need to die to my self-centered desires and plans if God is to achieve His plans through me.

Another scripture that is an incentive for me to keep my heart and life right with God is a favorite verse of mine, 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (NKJV). Some versions phrase it as “whose heart is perfect toward Him.” I once heard a speaker at a conference ask, “what is a perfect heart?” The speaker’s answer was “a heart that does not hold anything back from God.” One of the biggest problems in our society today is that people don’t see God’s power in our lives. So, I think about this verse, and try to make sure that my affections line up with God’s Word. 

Making Choices that Please God

To help remind me of the importance of making choices that please God, I think of Isaiah 66:4, which says, “So I will choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight” (NKJV, see also Isaiah 65:12). Another passage in Isaiah addresses the blessing of choosing what pleases God. Isaiah 56:4-5 says, “For thus says the Lord: to the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off” (NKJV).  

A Reminder of the Variety that a Year Brings   

To help prepare me for the variety of situations that a year can bring, I read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1) at the beginning of the year and several times during the year. I hope that, for me and you, this new year has several great experiences in store just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed!