[Be sure and read the passage before the words below. Click the reference to read online.]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV
Hope... it's a struggle for me.
Somehow, I've come to believe that if I hope for things I want I'll end up looking like a fool when they never happen. I'd rather be proud in my pessimism than expectant in hope.
This is not the attitude a Believer is supposed to possess. It's one of my failings. But I see in this Scripture it's not supposed to be about me and my ability to hope. It's only by the power of the Holy Spirit that I may abound in hope.
Somewhere along the way I've let the world beat down my hopes. I suppose, for the most part, in the past, I've set my hopes on or in the wrong things, but God says that those who hope in Him will not be disappointed.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5 NIV84
Our ability to hope and not be disappointed is all tied up in the Holy Spirit whom He has given us out of love. Our level of hope depends on how much space we give the Spirit in our lives and whether we receive Him wholeheartedly as a gift of love. To receive His gift of hope fuels our joy and peace.
Where are you when it comes to hope? joy? peace?
Today I confess my lack of hope and ask the God of hope to fill me with all joy and peace in believing.
Father God, I no longer want to allow hopelessness to steal my joy and peace.
By the power of the Holy Spirit fill me with hope, for the salvation of loved ones,
for Your glorification through the church, for Your good purpose to prevail in my life
and in the world. Holy Spirit, fill me with hope!
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