CONCERT OF PRAYER 

Pray Week 757

“Door of Hope”

Hosea 2:15 (ESV)      And there I will … make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.

————————————————————————————

In our reference Scripture from Hosea, the word ‘Achor’ means ‘trouble’ and the Valley of Achor was so named because of the trouble encountered there by the children of Israel.  It was in this valley that Joshua’s men, fresh from their victory at Jericho, were soundly defeated by the men of Ai because of the sin in their camp.  God did not help them in their battle with Ai as He had done at Jericho because of the sin of Achan and his family.

The Lord said to Joshua … Israel has sinned; … Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. – Joshua 7:10

We will encounter valleys of trouble in life.  There is no escaping that fact.

… In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Sometimes, our valley of trouble is a consequence of our own actions brought upon by our stubborn refusal to repent of sin and obey the Word of God.

Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you. – Deuteronomy 23:14

Other times the valley of trouble is a time of testing allowed by God in order to shape, mold, and equip us much like the time spent in boot camp to prepare our troops for battle.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2

The good news of the Gospel is that God loves us so much that regardless of the reason for our being in a valley of trouble, He is faithful to provide a door of hope in the person of Jesus Christ.  If we are steeped in trouble because of sin, Jesus is our door of hope.  He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9)

…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

If we are experiencing difficult times and trials as children of God, Jesus is our door of hope.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep”; And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – John 10:7; Romans 8:28

Are you looking for a ‘door of hope’?  Look no further than to Jesus Christ.  Are you in need of a job?  Seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.  Do you need a financial miracle?  Seek Him first.  Do you need healing in body, mind or relationships?  Seek Jesus first.  Make Him your door of hope.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.