Hope

Romans 5: 3-5

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Hope is a matter of the mind. Not to be confused with faith, hope is in our head, faith is in our heart. Hope is our attitude of expectancy. While we might have strong faith, without hope in the future we will not stand and act. So that begs the question, what do you hope for? We might start everyday with prayer, and thanksgiving to the Lord, do we follow that up with hope for the day?

As we step out into the world do we have a attitude of positive hope? We cannot fill our heart with faith, then fill our hope with the negative, something like " I know the Lord will protect me, but I just don't think I can make it through today" is a good example, or maybe we start our day off with nothing more than "I hope today goes alright"...... That is not living with the hope Christ blessed us with, that is getting by, that is surviving. The Lord wants us to live, not just get by. However all to often we work directly against God. We don't mean to, but we close off so many positive thoughts. It seems that you just do not hear many people today saying "man, you just have to hope for the best", no, today you hear a lot more of" don't get your hopes up"!

That small little mindset right there is the start of either great things to come, or one of just getting by. Just think on those two phrases. don't get your hopes up....what a junky phrase, you are telling yourself that you want the mediocre, you are not hoping for good things, you are just hoping to get by! On the other hand "hope for the best" four little words, and you are not looking to get by, you are not hoping for OK, you are hoping for the best that the day can give you.

When we start the day with the hope for the best, we open our hearts to let the Lord work. That type of hope, coupled with your faith in the Lord, will make you unstoppable. Don't listen to everyone who is trying to drag you down with all of that negative thinking. Hope for the best! As verse 5 tells us hope does not disappoint, because God has poured out his love into our hearts. Faith and hope, start the day with both, and you will be walking with the Lord all day long.


Peace,
Rev. Thetford