HOPE: A Message for the Bride
October 18, 2021 1:26 PM
Averine Pennington
10-18-21
This message was laid on my heart this morning by the Holy Spirit. Often, just as I am rousing from sleep, I will hear in a ‘still small voice’ a word or phrase that is the first thought on my mind when I open my eyes. That is what occurred today. I heard, “Give hope to the Bride.” I sought the Lord concerning this, asking, “What would You have me say, Lord?” I received no additional word, but in my spirit I understood that I am to share the ‘hope that is within me.’
The Lord knows me better than I know myself. He knows you, dear Bride! He knows how weary you have all become, awaiting His soon return. He knows the struggles you are going through. He is aware of every fiery dart the enemy has sent into your life attempting to thwart you. I believe He wants me to be your cheerleader today . . . to give you hope to endure as you run the last and most difficult leg of the race. It is a fight to the finish line, but He wants to assure you that He has already won the victory! Be strong, dear Bride. Stay the course. Do not look to the right or the left but keep your eyes on the prize!
I know this assignment was meant not only for you, but to strengthen my heart also. I do not want to dwell on all that I have been through in my life in the last 10 months. It has been the most difficult time of my life by far. What I do want to emphasis is the faithfulness of God to me every step of the way! Yesterday, was a particularly trying day. I found myself in tears much of the time. My daughter-in-law came for a visit, but our time together was bittersweet. She came to visit the graveside of my son, to be as near as she could to him on what would have been their 6th anniversary. How do you console a heart that is so broken? Such sorrow over what is gone . . . what could have been . . . a beautiful love story cut short? You share the wonderful memories . . . you talk about what he use to say and do that made you laugh. You let God speak to your heart and remind you that ‘nothing that is loved is ever lost.’ After our visit was over and she had departed, I was drawn to visit my son’s resting place alone. As I placed fresh flowers on his grave, a beautiful orange monarch butterfly kept flitting all around me. I like to think that was something beautiful that my God sent to cheer me. God is so good!
There is one more example I’d like to share with you of God’s great faithfulness. Another trial we have been through this year is surviving a house fire. Months have elapsed since the fire, but it took some time to go through the process of insurance claims and finding a contractor willing to deal with such a mess. Finally, with contractor number six, God sent us the perfect crew to do the job. It has taken almost three weeks of demolition and more huge dumpster loads hauled away than I can count . . . but as of today the crew will be taking the final wall of the destroyed building down to the foundation. They will sweep the cement clean and within days new construction will rise. Praise the Lord! To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Dear Bride, I do not know what you may be going through, but I do know WHO walks beside you! He will never leave you or forsake you. HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT! When your strength is gone, He will carry you! There is coming a day when He will take you in His arms and wipe every tear from your eyes. There will be no more sorrow and no more pain. Until that day comes, our Lord asks you to BE BRAVE! Whatever obstacles you may encounter on this last mile of the way . . . wherever His calling upon your life may lead you . . . rest on His promises. Always . . . place your HOPE IN THE LORD!
I will leave you with a few verses to meditate upon. Hide them in your heart and the Holy Spirit will bring them to your remembrance when you have need of them. Be encouraged, my brothers and sisters who are the Bride of Christ. You are much loved by your Bridegroom!
Yours for the Harvest,
Averine
SCRIPTURES (KJV):
Psalm 27 (read entire chapter)
Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:21-26 – “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22) It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24) The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. 25) The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. 26) It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”
Romans 15:13 – “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Ephesians 1:17-20 – “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19) And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 20) Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,”
1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: ad be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
