I am already enjoying Advent! This is remarkable considering—#momfail—for the first two nights we forgot to light our Advent Wreath! On Monday and Tuesday, we ate our breakfast by candlelight and did our Advent readings right after our morning devotional. True confession.

The Heart of Advent

But here is what is giving me joy: HOPE.

The heart of Advent is hope. I keep reminding myself, when my mind wanders to grumpy or insecure or ungrateful places, I keep remembering this is the week of hope! Here is what reminds me that we are to be a people of hope:[tweetthis]We are to be a people of hope![/tweetthis]

Exalt Him as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame.

1 Peter 3:15 VOICE

I am asking myself this week: Does my life evidence the HOPE that is within me?

My hope is in the Lord. [tweetthis]My hope is in the Lord. [/tweetthis]

My hope is not in my ability, or my health, or my happiness—all of these disappoint me.  But He does not disappoint. He is faithful. He shows up. He stays. He loves. Always.

I love thinking about the THREE comings of Jesus. We hear about baby Jesus at Christmas. Sometimes we hear about the Second Coming, too. But Jesus Advents—He arrives—in our hearts to save us from slavery to sin and death. Our Redeemer brings freedom. Awesome. Jesus said:

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 NLT

I don’t know about you, but I think it is about time for me to live up to Jesus’ purpose for me. Are you like me? Are you missing Jesus’ gift of a rich and satisfying life?  Hope is what takes me to that rich and satisfying place.

Hope is knowing that God is in charge, and being glad that I am not.

Hope is knowing that God is good, even if life isn’t.

Hope is knowing that God is enough, when I am not.

Hope is knowing that God’s plan WILL prevail, even when all seems lost.

Sometimes hope is just a glimmer of light in this dark world. Sometimes hope is a blinding burst of light, like the sun at high noon. But all of our hope comes from the very real presence of the Spirit of God, within us. The Spirit comes to us to renew us and repurpose our lives. The Spirit is deposited within our hearts as a promise, a guarantee, that we will always be in God’s presence, both now and for eternity.

This Advent I am making a fresh start. Not just today, but every day, I want to be marked by HOPE. How about you?