My Hope: 52 Devotions to Find Hope Again

By Hope Dukes

Hello, my dear.

If you're reading this, today is your start to becoming a new, improved, and best version of yourself, and it will change your life forever! It changed mine! Now, one thing is for sure: Change is not easy. When you're striving hard to do the right thing and to fulfill your purpose in life, there will be people, places, and things that will try to deter you from walking in your purpose and will try to take you back to the place that you have been delivered from. So brace yourself. It gets harder from here. But even though the road gets rough, God will never leave you. He will give you the strength that you need to get through any situation, joy in the midst of pain, and His peace that passes all understanding; that's all you need.

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust.

Life has all kinds of disappointments. These disappointments may have started to harden your heart, made you lose hope, or made you live with no expectations at all. Disappointments may have made you believe that expectations are letdowns; if you do not expect things, then you will not be let down. You may have started to always expect the worst for your life, and maybe you have become content with suffering. My friend, Satan thought he had you, but it is time to get your hope back!

I love you!

Always and forever,

Hope

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685175740

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My Hope

52 Devotions to Find Hope Again

Hope Dukes

ISBN 978-1-68517-573-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88685-044-4 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68517-574-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Hope Dukes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All hymns were taken from the New National Baptist Hymnal, Copyright © 1977 Triad Publications, Ninety-fourth printing, April 2022 by National Baptist Publishing Board Nashville, TN. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Let's Hope Again

Pretty Hurts

Don't Worry about a Thing

Mind over Matter

Write the Vision, and Ask for It

What God Has for You Is for You

Patience Is Key

Believe in Miracles

Imperfectly Perfect

Uniquely Designed

My Praise Is My Weapon

Trust Him

Be in Good Company

We Never Get Credit

'Tis the Reason

Don't Be Afraid of the Wilderness

Do It Even when You Are Hurting

What's Your Habit?

Divorce Is Not the End

Leave Before It's Too Late

His Word Is the Truth

You're Chosen by His Grace

The Underdog Wins

Don't Be Afraid of Therapy

A Hymn Will Get You through the Valley

The Valley Produces Purpose

Our Children Need Help Too

You're His Choice

Lego

Pure Gold

Don't Settle

Your Suffering Serves a Purpose

Keep Standing

Don't Be Afraid to Be the Rookie

Be Ready for What You Pray For

There's More

No-Judgment Zone

Be the One

It's All Good

No Longer a Slave to Fear

Am I My Brothers' (Sisters') Keeper?

There Is Power in the Name

I Am Not Cursed

A Cheerful Giver

I Am a Survivor

Why Aren't You Following Me?

Preparation for the Palace

Finish Strong

Give Me Clean a Heart

Trip Advisory

The Lord's Prayer

Fall Forward

About the Author

This book is dedicated to my three amazing sons: Donnell, Jaylen, and Marquese—the only three people that know what my heart sounds like from the inside.

My loves, I have worked and continue to work extremely hard so the three of you would never have to want for anything.

My sunshines, I pushed the three of you so very hard because I want the three of you to be somebody in life and leave a legacy that is pleasing in God's sight.

My hearts, I am far from perfect, and I've made mistakes along the way; I apologize. One thing is for certain: I am confident that I have done my very best to raise all three of you in the right way, and by the grace of God, you all will be dynamic.

All three of you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. Always put Him first.

My boys who are soon to be men, regardless of how far the Lord takes you in life, the three of you will always be my babies.

I love all three of you with all my heart. Always and forever,

—Mommy

Satan thought he had you, but now it is time for you to get your hope back.

Introduction

Well, son, I'll tell you:

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

It's had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now—

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

—Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

This poem is important to me, and it holds so much truth because we all go through things in life. I know that I would have never been able to keep climbing this journey of life without God and that my strength and help come from the Lord. Although I do get weary in doing good, and I am very far from perfect, God sees past my imperfections, and I am grateful to be used by Him for His glory and for my good.

In every situation—good or bad—I give thanks to God. I try to utilize every situation to make me better and not bitter. I never ask God, Why me? I ask God what He is trying to teach me and what He wants me to learn from each lesson in my life. I literally go in my bathroom and look in the mirror, and I ask myself, What have I done wrong? What could I have done better? What has this situation taught me? How has this situation made me stronger?

I love giving to the less fortunate and helping those in need. My goal is to empower people all over the world to become a better version of themselves. Always remember, the more we strive to live a life pleasing to God, the harder the devil comes to attempt to kill, steal, and destroy. But the devil is a liar, and our battles were already won at the cross.

I love the poem Footprints because the writer is having flashbacks of things that happened in her life. During her lowest points in life, she only saw one set of footprints, so she questioned God why there was only one set of footprints at her lowest points. God told her, My child, I love you and I promised to never leave you. So during your lowest points, when you only saw one set of footprints, it was because I was carrying you.

I am blessed with three amazing boys whom I love dearly—my three greatest accomplishments. Parenting doesn't come with a handbook, and I have made a lot of mistakes along the way. But I have strived as a single mother to provide for my children and to be the best mother I knew how to be. That's what God asks of us: to give our very best!

I was raised in the church all my life. I have been in almost every ministry in the church, and as an adult, I've come to the realization that there will be times when we can't find the words to pray, so God will put a song in our hearts to carry us through. It was during the toughest times in my life that the hymns of the New National Baptist Hymnal brought me through, so I decided to share some of the hymns that God placed in my heart during my trying times.

In life, trials come to make us stronger. Hearts are meant to be broken, and tears are meant to be shed. That's why God gave them to us. Every blessing comes with a high price, and every blessing comes with a burden. Mary was an ordinary woman who was blessed to carry the Messiah, but she also suffered greatly. Bishop T. D. Jakes once said, When Gabriel told Mary that she would be impregnated by the Holy Spirit, in one breath, Mary said, ‘Hail, Gabriel,' and in the next breath, she said, ‘Hell, Gabriel.'

The Bible says, if we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him. So I hold this passage of scripture dear to my heart: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NKJV).

This is my truth. This devotional is not intended to offend anyone, and you may have been a part of my journey and mentioned indirectly. So if the shoe fits, wear it respectfully. God spoke to me a long time ago and instructed me to share snippets of my life with the world to empower, inspire, and help someone along the way. Honestly, I put this off for many years due to the scrutiny and backlash that I might get. Over the years, I have grown closer in Christ, and God wants our yes! When you submit wholeheartedly to Him, our lives come together like a beautiful symphony. I am no longer bound by the critics' critique; my eyes are fixed on the Creator.

I pray this devotional blesses your life in every way possible.

I love you! Always and forever!

—Hope

1

Let's Hope Again

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

—2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

Life has all kinds of disappointments. From a little girl, I lived in a pattern of disappointment. January 1 of every year, I would always walk into the new year strong, prepared to fulfill my dreams, my purpose, and most of all, the promises of God. But by midyear every year, something tragic had always happened, and I was filled with heartache and disappointment. These disappointments started to harden my heart, they made me lose hope, and they made me live with no expectations at all. Disappoints made me believe that expectations are letdowns. If I did not expect things, then I would not be let down. I started to always expect the worst for my life and became content with suffering. Does this sound like something you've been through? I know I am not the only one who has faced these challenges in life.

If you're reading this, today is your start to becoming a new and improved version of yourself, and it will change your life forever! It changed mine! Now, one thing is for sure: Change is not easy. When you're striving hard to do the right thing and to fulfill your purpose in life, there will be people, places, and things that will try to deter you from walking in your purpose and will try to take you back to the place that you have been delivered from. So brace yourself. It gets harder from here. But even though the road gets rough, God will never leave you. He will give you the strength that you need to get through any situation, joy in the midst of pain, and His peace that passes all understanding. And that's all you need. So many times, we fear change because we are so comfortable and content with the situation that we are in, but change is one of the best things that you can do in life. It's time to win and no longer be captive to fear. When you are in despair, remember, God loves you, and His love will lift you up and carry you through anything.

God did not give us a spirit of fear or cowardice. The Holy Spirit is not the author of a cowardly or timid disposition. The spirit of power, love, and a sound mind will carry us through our most difficult times. The strength and power that God gives us enables us to bear any and everything that comes our way. Keep smiling beautifully. God's love is so mighty and so true, and our latter is definitely going to be greater.

Hymn: pg. 223, The Solid Rock

Prayer: Father God, in the name of Jesus, help me to face this new season in my life and embrace change. Father, please help me to be strong and courageous, leaving all my disappointments, pain, and brokenness behind me. Please forgive me for all of my sins—past, present, and future. I rebuke the emotion of fear in the name of Jesus. Lord, I trust You. Lord, I love You. Lord, I thank You. In Jesus's name, amen.

2

Pretty Hurts

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.

—Psalm 139:14 (KJV)

The pretty girls get hurt the most.