God did not create us to fail.  To become successful requires hope and purpose.

Doing my research and reading national newspapers I didn’t realize the number of people who live everyday without hope.  Whether it is in the Middle East, Africa, Mexico or the poorer sections of American large cities many live in areas where government is corrupt, incompetent and dysfunctional. Many suffer from malnutrition, unemployment, living where there is a lack of security and in heavy crime areas, feeling despair and stress without sufficient finances to provide medicine and nutritional needs.  Many are members of religions that offer little hope and no assurance of eternal life in heaven.  A number of Americans feeling sorry for these people’s condition want to change the governmental process to socialism.  However, they do not realize it is the corrupt, incompetent and dysfunctional governments that are taking away their hope, freedom and not allowing each individual to have opportunity and purpose in life that socialistic forms of governments are supposed to provide.

My purpose for writing is to share with those who are living in better conditions but have little or no hope for the future because they have allowed  others to define who they are or what they can become.  Who you associate with and who you listen to really matters.  Life offers tremendous  0pportunities.  I came from a very poor background when my father died I was six.  In the fifth grade I took a paper route and began earning enough to buy my clothes and other necessities.  I have never been unemployed since.  Rules for younger people today have changed and many no longer have the opportunities some of us who are older did.  They are afraid some adult will take advantage of a young person and work them too hard.  I know what it is like to live without hope and to live with hope. I like living with hope so much better and you can also.

If you knew that God created you to be successful and positive would you live differently? I believe most people allow the devil to blind them  spiritually.  If you have never heard what the Bible teaches and what God promises, Satan and his demons wouldn’t have to worry about you trying to improve the world by testifying about the gospel to others. He is no longer concerned that your life will change spiritually.   So what does he do?  He puts people into your life that have a critical spirit who hold you back from doing what God created you to do.  Who you associate with can alter your purpose, faith and vision.  They can destroy any hope you may have.  There are people who you think are friends who will discourage you from being what God intended you to be.  Only associate with people who are encouragers, believe in you and treat you as a child of God.  Stay away from all those who have that critical spirit. They can bring you down or discourage you from finding your purpose.

My life changed dramatically when I accepted Christ and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  I guarantee accepting Christ will change your life if you follow His teachings.  If you understand what God promises and trust Him there should be no anxiety, depression, despondency or despair in your life.  What is your attitude as you wake up each day?  Do you start the day dreading it without hope or do you awaken wondering what opportunities God will give you today?  If you have the Holy Spirit in your life are you listening to His counseling or are you relying on what others say who may be jealous of any success you may have?

You may be working in an environment where being a Christian causes you to be under relentless pressure to be productive in a climate where Christian principles are often viewed as irrelevant, quaint or a sign of weakness.  We cannot let others define who we are.

I Thessalonians 4:7 & 8 – “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

If you want hope in your life begin living a holy life following the instructions God has given you.  It is more than just being spiritual.  He has instructed us how to live life in all areas: physical as well as spiritual. We have learned what foods are good for us, how disciplined and how stress-free our life style should be and the affect it can have on our health.  We have been told we must have a life purpose, feel we are achievers, live guilt-free lives, develop personal relationships and emphasize the importance of love.  We are told not to hate anyone, even our enemies.  Hate can be a physical destroyer of the body.  If you have true love in your heart there cannot be hate.  We are told to forgive.  Holding grudges or desiring revenge can also affect our health.  Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Following His rules will make you a “new person” both spiritually and physically. Don’t associate with people, as friends, if they have hate, apathy and lack love for others.

We are told by medical research that those who live happy lives and those living by (Biblical) ethical principles significantly increase one’s longevity as well as their success.  John 14:20 – 27 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’  Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’”  Do you  understand what Christ is teaching?  Christ will teach us how to have hope and joy and not to worry.

Christ talks about God’s love for us and the Holy Spirit that will live in us.  Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things.  Christ then says He leaves His peace and we are not to be troubled and  not be afraid.  The Bible in so many ways tells us to have love, joy and peace.  We are not to allow the stress and worries of the world to be a dominant part of our lives.

We all realize there are no guarantees that we will always have hope, happiness and healthful lives.  There will always be wars, plagues, accidents and illnesses.  However, the more scientists have explored and discovered the intricacies of the body, the more they realized that by following God’s guidelines it will even give us better health and a longer life.  Most scientists would never give God the credit. Those of us who have read and studied the Bible realize the importance of following God’s manual both physically and spiritually. If you do not have hope in your life and associate with people that do not believe in you or have a positive attitude, you are not following Christ’s teaching.  The Bible guarantees you to be a new creation if you will accept Him and following his guidance.  Plan and count on it!