hope Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Captain Over Them

Captain Over Them by Kirk Hunt

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Unjustly accused, and a death warrant issued in his name, David hid in the cave of Adullam. First, his extended family joined him. Then the losers of Israel came. David became a captain or leader to those shunned and despised by everyone else.

With the elite forces of King Saul looking for him, David gained responsibility for the lowest people in Israel. Some would call those same folk liabilities. Deadbeats, troublemakers, and whiners from across Israel came to David for help and support. Instead of a handout, David gave them courage, valor, skill, and expertise.

Perhaps you think your Adullam experience is the end of you. God is instead setting you up for future success. Those sniveling losers need to be transformed into elite champions. And their captain is a king (or queen) in training.

You will have to stay the course. You will train, educate, encourage and discipline men and women everyone else jettisoned. They do not look like much now, but they will be champions after you become God’s captain over them.

Think: God is setting you up as a future king (or queen) by making you a captain now.

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister Your way, in Your Name, here and now.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Mourning The Rejected

“Mourning The Rejected” By Kirk Hunt

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV

At first, King Saul had been God’s man, in and through character, anointing and appointment. Even before sparing King Agag, Saul, son of Tish, had become rejected by God. Samuel grieved for the loss.

Saul chose to be rejected. It came one act of pride, arrogance or disobedience at a time. All too soon after his coronation, Saul decided he did not need to obey God or continue following His law.

Godly men and women rarely fall all at one. You just suddenly notice. Like David, Saul likely had multiple opportunities to repent and recover. Thick, thin, bright or dim, the king crossed a final line in God’s judgment and divine rejection..

God is a God of mercy and grace. He is also a God judgment and justice. Seek Him while He can be found.

God ordered Samuel to his feet and sent him to anoint the next king of Israel. Saul could have stayed close to God’s heart and purpose. Instead, he chose to reject God’s plan for himself and the nation. His choice became a tragedy for him and the nation.

Please do not confuse God’s love and mercy for indulgence. Your anointing can be lost. Your appointment can be forfeited.

It may not be “just one more thing.” It may be “the final straw.” Seek God now and seek His continuing acceptance.

Think: What path am I choosing and why?

Pray: “Help me to stay worthy of Your acceptance and approval.”

It Shall Be Well

“It Shall Be Well” By Kirk Hunt

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

2 Kings 4:23 KJV
Please also read 2 Kings 4: 18-37

“It shall be well.” The Shunammite heard her little boy’s breathing rattle to a stop. She felt the living warmth fade from his body. She laid his cold, still form down to take the only action she knew could help.

“It shall be well.” Her grim determination testified to her understanding of her situation. She wanted a different outcome. Her every word and action demonstrated her unrelenting hope.

“It shall be well.” Her heart and mind likely swam in grief. Her faith carried her over all-too-human reactions and feelings. As she drove hard over the miles, faith kept her in her saddle.

“It shall be well.” Whatever you are facing. No matter how it looks to the natural eye. Regardless of expert opinion.

“It shall be well.” Speak the words, long before you can see the outcome. Testify to your coming success, despite your present setbacks. Use your faith to warm the cold reality of your situation.

“It shall be well.” These words do not prevent hot tears. They are a prelude to hard work. Despite all of that, they are still warm comfort and unyielding hope. Speak the words with real faith™.

“It shall be well.” God is there, with you. He sees your entire situation. He cares. Do you have the faith to speak the words?

Think: Faith stands and acts, despite the circumstances.

Pray: “Lord, I declare, in Your Name, ‘It shall be well.’”

At The River’s Bank

“At The River’s Bank” By Kirk Hunt

But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.

Exodus 2:3
Please read also Exodus 1:8–22

At the river’s bank, Jochebed carefully laid her infant son in a waterproofed basket. Driven by a mixture of fear, hope, desperation, ingenuity and determination, she sought life and safety for her boy in the Nile. She risked the life of her helpless infant with crocodiles or drowning. She saved him from the certainty of death at the hands of Pharaoh’s soldiers.

“Amram, I put the baby in the river today. Now I am being paid by the royal court to raise our baby. God is good.”

Desperate people do extraordinary things. Some acts, in retrospect, are unwise. Others actions demonstrate courage and determination despite stress and danger. In some circumstances, you must do what you can with what you have.

Perhaps you stand at a river’s bank in your life. Your circumstances have driven you in ways you never imagined. Even in a place of risk and danger, God is still with you.

Turn to His wisdom and guidance. Ask Him to guide you in what He is blessing. God’s direction may not make sense to others. His guidance may not make sense to you. His path remains the way to safety and blessing.

Think: God sees and cares for me, even in the worst of circumstances.

Pray: “Lord, guide me in Your wisdom, even at the river’s edge.”

Hope In The King

“Hope In The King” By Kirk Hunt

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Lamentations 3:24 NKJV

I pray that in this New Year you will build God’s Kingdom. Of course, it would be better (and easier) to do so from a place of great provision and extraordinary favor. Your circumstances, rich or poor, renowned or reviled, do not define your hope. Your hope rests in God.

The Book of Lamentations was traditionally written by Jeremiah, at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon. In the figurative or literal smoke of the burning Temple, grief is easy. Still, Lamentations points to hope. No matter what our circumstances are, we can rely on God.

Lamentations correctly points out the errors of Judah and her kings. If anything, God’s judgment was overdue. Still, there was mercy and grace for the Jewish people, despite God’s discipline.

Regardless of our circumstances, we are in the hands of a loving God. Even when we are in rebellion against Him. Even when we are disciplined by Him. No matter your current circumstances, you can move forward with hope in God.

Today, you are living in the love, mercy and grace of God. God has not given you up or turned His heart from you. No matter what circumstance you are in, you are still loved by Him.

We can rely on God. He cares for and nurtures us in all of our situations. In this New Year, and every other moment of your life, Your hope in Him is never misplaced.

Think: Do I put my hope in God, instead of my circumstances?

Pray: “Lord, I choose to hope in You.”

An Angel Named Perseverance

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“An Angel Named Perseverance” By Kirk Hunt

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

James 5:11 NKJV

Perseverance is not one of the beautiful angels. There are no hidden secrets. There are no mysterious procedures. It is the simple act of staying at your tasks until the end.

Most Christians do not associate perseverance with skill or power. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit and very often, it is the difference between success and failure. Perseverance has great value in the secular world, and in the things of God. Perseverance carries and preserves us until His answers come.

Perseverance is a sibling to endurance and a cousin to patience. It is the link between hope and prayer. All champions have, or get, perseverance. That is because all champions eventually run out of fancy moves and clever strategies. All that remains then is refusing to give up until you get victory.

Perseverance does have a formula: Take the hits. Get up, if needed. Continue serving God. Repeat until you arrive in His Kingdom.

There is no magic or mystery in perseverance. Just a willingness to continue until victory comes. You do want victory, right?

Think: Perseverance may not be flashy but it is critical.

Pray: “Lord, help me have endurance until my change and answers come from You.

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Light In The Dark

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“Light In The Dark” By Kirk Hunt

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord

Isaiah 38:1-2 NKJV

Sometimes, the news lacks any light or lightness. Verse 3 records that Hezekiah wept bitterly because of Isaiah’s message. In too many cases, despite our unending hope in God, the facts and data have only one (grim) conclusion. Christian men and women also face dark nights and gray days.

No matter how hopeless the news, we can always have a hopeful response. God is always happy to spend time with us, tears and all. His light shines through the darkest shadows.

King Hezekiah turned to the wall. He turned away from the doctors, the attendants, and even the prophet. He faced the wall so that he could talk unhindered, and undistracted, with God.

Hezekiah had one message from God, but he wanted a different outcome. He went to God in prayer. Despite the dark news, Hezekiah had hope in God’s power and grace.

Your news may lack any light. Don’t let that shake your hope and confidence in God. He is there, at your side. No matter how dark it seems.

If He won’t carry you over, He will carry you through. Spend time with Him. He is your hope, and light, despite the news.

Think: God, and His light, is always there for you.

Pray: God, here are my burdens. I cannot, but You can.

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Keep Your Hope

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“Keep Your Hope” by Kirk Hunt

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Lamentations 3:21–22 KJV

The Book of Lamentations is a grim and somber part of Scripture. Jeremiah clearly and forcefully explains the plight and situation of Israel and Judah in Babylonian captivity. In the center of the text, Jeremiah stops weeping and declares his hope in God’s love, mercy and compassions.

God issued the crushing cold and merciless darkness of His judgment against His people. Still, in the middle of the gloom and pain is a place of light, warmth and joy. The God who disciplines us is also the God who loves us.

His love for His people is so great that He restrains justice. Mercy still has a hand in Israel’s punishment. God’s grace, despite the captivity, remains part of Judah’s life.

Whatever you are facing, God’s love is still part of your life. His grace is still at the core of your affairs. His mercy still has a hand in your circumstances.

Despite the pain. With the tears. In the groaning.

His love is never ending. His love for us is the source of our hope. No matter how grim and somber our present is, we have hope because we have God.

Do not surrender. Do not despair. Despite it all, He loves us and therefore we have hope.

Think: God’s love for me is the source of my hope.

Pray: “Lord, help me to have hope in the love you have for me.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Riding The Storm

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“Riding The Storm” by Kirk Hunt

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Acts 27:22–23 KJV

The wind-driven salt water stung Paul’s face just like everyone else. The Apostle suffered with nausea from two weeks of violent pitching, like everyone else. The storm beat and battered everyone on the ship, without exception.

To the trained experts, the situation seemed forlorn of anything positive. Still, Paul stood up in the middle of the group with words of hope. Not because he was missing the storm, but because He was riding the storm.

We do God and ourselves a disservice. We try to limit how He can act. We set up rules that limit His salvation.

God’s angels can chat and visit with water-soaked believers. Even in the middle of a typhoon. His hope can shine through, even when rain and storm-clouds block the sun. If you let Him, God can ride the storm with you as well.

God does not have to stop the storm to ride with you. You can climb on to His hope at any time. When the wind is howling at its loudest, God’s power shines brightest.

Everyone on the ship made it safely to land. The angel did not lie to Paul. Paul passed on what he knew was a true and complete message: God is riding the storm with us.

Think: God’s power can shine in any circumstances.

Pray: “Lord, help me to live, knowing you ride the storm with me.”

Some Dreams Tell The Story

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“Some Dreams Tell The Story” by Kirk Hunt

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

2 Kings 8:5 KJV

The Shunammite woman and her household returned from Philistia. Unfortunately, she found her property occupied by squatters (or worse). Ironically, she now needed to speak to the King (see 2 Kings 4:13).

In between cases, King Jehoram (aka Joram) commanded Gehazi to relate the record of Elisha’s ministries and miracles. Elisha’s resurrection of the dead became a featured story. In the middle of the account, the Shunammite walked in.

Despite the fact that he was now a teenager, the boy remained a miracle. Twice, God had directly intervened in his life (and his mother’s). First, through the prophesy of his birth. Again, at his resurrection. With her hands on her hips, the Shunammite told the story of how God made her dreams come true.

Some dreams tell the story of God’s power, and more importantly, His love. It may be that you have lived your life just to tell God’s story. Put your hands on your hips and tell the story of how God brought your dreams to life.

Think: God gives life to our dreams. Sometimes, so we can tell His story.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to tell Your story with my life and times.”

Some Dreams Get New Life

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“Some Dreams Get New Life” by Kirk Hunt

When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

2 Kings 4:27-28 NIV

At daybreak, the Shunammite woman watched her little boy run and play. At noon, her dream lay cold and stiffening in an upstairs bedroom. The bitter reality of her situation called for action.

Common wisdom would call for a mortician. Instead, she sent for a driver. She put on her traveling clothes and her “game face.” She had work to do.

The facts and data said, “The dream is over.” Faith and hope said, “It shall be well.” To the driver, she said, “Go hard and fast.”

Sometimes, in the rough and tumble of life, a dream dies. Bitter distress is the normal reaction to such an event. As God’s people, we can respond with faith and hope. If God can bring a dream to life, He can give it new life.

At evening, the Shunammite’s little boy once again ran and played. Her faith had brought new life to her dream. What will your faith bring (back) to life?

Think: God gives life to our dreams. Sometimes, twice.

Pray: “Father-God, life and power are in, and with, You.”

Hope

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“Hope” by Kirk Hunt

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)

You are never quite ready for the death of kith or kin. A long, protracted illness lacks enough warning. A sudden tragedy always catches us unready.

Death does not ask. He does not negotiate. He simply comes. Even Scripture says so.

Death can force us to choose, but he can not control our choices. You can respond in faith. You can reply in strength.

The tears may fall faster and hotter than you like. That is because you are flesh and blood. The sorrow comes because you love and care. That is a good thing.

Grief is not weakness. Sorrow is the most authentic evidence of a life lived, with love, among men and women. Tears are the normal response to loss and permanent separation. Any relationship worth having extracts some grief at its end.

Still, after the waves of sorrow pass, you are left with the memories. Those stored moments of laughter, tears, brawls and embraces are precious treasure. As long as you remember, your friend or kinsman is just a thought away. Especially for those who live and die in Christ, it is never “goodbye,” just “see you later.”

Go on and live through this season. You will have to feel it all. Your real friends and remaining family will see you through the hurt and heartache.

Christians cry at the open grave or weep before the burning pyre. Still, we stand, triumphant through Christ. Death may force the issue, but Jesus has the final Word. “They are not dead, but sleep.”

You will live, love and laugh again. Sooner than you think. God’s grace will carry you. His peace will settle you. God’s power over death gives us our greatest strength: Hope.

Think: His power gives me hope.

Pray: “Lord, help me to remember that You have already triumphed, even over death.”