4 Reminders to Keep Us Expressing Hope

Last week, we looked at hope being in a person rather than merely an expression of our emotions. Jesus is our hope, and it is He who provides for our Father’s acceptance.

Such a hope should lead to our expressing hope as surely as night follows day. Ongoing gratitude for our hope in Christ should be a natural part of the Christian life.

We may not be ungrateful, but we can forget to be grateful. We get used to the things we’ve been given, and we begin to take them for granted. Believers can do that in their relationship with Christ. The longer we have been believers, the more we can get used to the blessings and benefits of knowing Christ. Over time, we can forget what it was like not to have that hope in Him.¹

The book of Psalms provides us with many examples of gratitude and praise. One of these is in the 138th Psalm where David writes,

“I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and truth. You have exalted Your name and Your promises above everything else. On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.”²

David’s expression of praise and his statement of future praise in this psalm are directly related to God’s response to him: “On the day I called, You answered me.” This is not surprising, as most of us were filled with praise on the day God answered our call.

Do Not Forget to be Grateful

The concern expressed above is just how quickly distance is put between the time of our salvation and the present day. That distance doesn’t do away with our gratitude, but it can cause us to forget to be grateful. Here are four things we can do to remind us to be grateful.

1. Annually

We can remind ourselves annually by marking our spiritual birthday on the calendar. Whether the paper calendar hanging in your kitchen or the digital calendar on your phone, add your spiritual birthday. Don’t forget to set an alert so it will pop-up as a reminder.

2. Monthly

On the last day of each month, write down something God did during the month as a result of being His child. Perhaps one of your family members or friends comes to Christ, you hit a strong season of spiritual growth, or were blessed by a brother or sister in Christ. Make a note in a journal or in your Bible.

3. Weekly

Each week, set aside a specific quiet time to review the blessings God has brought to you. This may take a half hour or longer, but it will grow a spirit of gratitude and remind you of His constant involvement.

4. Daily

Each morning, thank God for the salvation He has given you.

These are just four suggestions to remind yourself to be thankful for God and His salvation. Whatever methods you choose, do not let yourself take God’s work in your life for granted. Remember, and be grateful. When we remember our hope in Christ, we can more easily express it.

Yours for the Great Commission,

Ronnie W. Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life

¹– Bible Studies for Life, Let Hope In, by Pete Wilson
²– Psalm 138:1-3, HCSB