living in hope

I have been very encouraged by the hope we have in the Lord over the past few days. Sometimes I get discouraged and disappointed in relationships with others or in personal shortcomings but when I read a psalm like Psalm 16 I realize that the real hope that I have comes from a sharp focus on the Lord (and not on myself or on othe people or things). Here are some of the hopeful promises from Psalm 16:

He is our protection (¹ Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge. )

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He is my personal inheritance...I could never inherit more from another (⁵ Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.)

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He has given me a good and pleasant life. (⁶ The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!)

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He is my personal guide. (⁷ I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.)

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He shows me the path that leads to eternal life, to be with Him forever! (¹¹ You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.)

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With gratitude, in hope, I can say with the Psalmist, David, ⁹ No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice! (exclamation point, mine...)

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Rob Smith