Have you run out of hope? Have things in your life, current circumstances, 
robbed you of waiting on God for the very things you believe He has for you? Have people robbed you of your peace? Well, if this is so, report it! Just like you would call the police if your house was robbed, call on Jesus and report the theft of your soul peace and hope vandalism!
The enemy of your soul, your mind, your life itself…is satan. And his desire is to disable you from having any hope, peace or faith in God. He knows that without faith we can not please God, and that hope and faith go hand in hand. Certainly he wants to snatch our hope and then our faith. Call 911 and report it immediately!
Hope. It’s a familiar word, used often in our vocabulary. We hope that it won’t rain on our beach vacation, hope we will get a raise at work, hope our children will stay out of trouble, and hope that we can lose a few pounds before the looming reunion. We talk a good talk of hope. But what is it? And, do we really hope, or is our word “hope” used more as a way to say…I wish.
Today’s Truth: Romans 8:24b-25
“But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
In the Greek , hope is the word, elpis, which means to wait for something with confident expectation. So that is probably why we mix up hope with wishing for things. But, hope, in the Biblical sense is much more solid than a wish. Hope is based on the object of our HOPE, which is God’s power and provision.
Hope and Faith go hand in hand. I have an acronym that I use to get myself into HOPE mode when I am discouraged. I use it as a reference point for my mind, process and emotional self.
- H–Heavenly
- O–Optimism
- P–Produces
- E–Encouragement
Hope has much to do with focus. Heavenly Optimism is the same as sayin “look up!” When I look UP, I am encouraged because God is faithful to take that upward glance and turn it to peace in His eventual provision.
The last two days my emotional self has been tested and tried. I forced myself to keep looking UP. Many times I didn’t want to look up. I would rather just cry, stew, or vent my hurt and disappointment. But, what good was that going to do? Venting has it’s place, but once it’s done, move on. How? We move on by Looking Up!
Looking Up! is a lifestyle to be learned that will lead us down the path of Living up in Hope and Faith. If your faith is worn out and your hope is flimsy right now, stop today and force yourself to Look Up to the Lord, for help, strength and yes, HOPE, that even in the current “thing” you are more than a conquerer through Him who loves you most.
Today’s Prayer
Teach me Father to REALLY put my hope in you.
Thanks for the encouragement and reminding us of God’s word.
Truly, no matter what the circumstance, God is good, faithful and an awesome provider. This world is transitory and our only hope is in HIM who always does what He promises. Heavenly opitimism produces encouragement is true.
If we look and see what God has already done for us we have
much to be hopeful for. Thanks again.
Debbie, I just attended The Rock, San Diego womens retreat at Murrietta. I was visiting my girlfriend of 30 years in SD. My husband & I moved to Ohio 21 years ago for a job from SD. We are now seperated after marrying as Christians 27 years ago. That weekend was life changing for me. God used you & your testimony to renew me. In the last 3 or so years, I have suffered more lose & dissapointment than the rest of my 55 years of life put together. Before the conference & my trip to SD I was full of hopelessness & despair. I am from Long Island origionally & have always been able to push through anything. I want to thank you for your transparency & honesty to expose your life to us. The shame & guilt and woundedness I came with has gone. I am back in Ohio & had someone at my prayer group tell me after I prayed for some needs last night, that she sensed that the Lord was restoring the years the Locust ate. She knew nothing of my trip & the restoration I’ve expereinced. ROMANS 8:28 has a deeper meaning since I heard you share. Your hard, bad trials worked good for me. I was renewed through your pain & loss. Debbie many blessings to you, keep being the best Debbie God made you to be. You’re a blessing, Dorrie Gaietto
Hi Debbie…I really enjoyed today’s blog. I’m going to print it out and share it with my small group tonight. I HOPE you enjoy your day today:)
My heart was really needing this Word.
Thank you and God bless you
Tere
Thanks! I needed to hear that! 😀
This is such a true thought! Hope is that “light at the end of the tunnel”.. and if we allow the enemy to snuff it out through discouragement, we open a door for him to knock us down even further. Whatever it is, surrender it to Jesus, and trust Him. (and yes, I am trying to practice what I preach in the midst of my own trials.) I belong to Him, and in that I can rest! 🙂