Hope

Posted on August 6, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Our theme for 2018 has been “UNLEASHING HOPE in a Confusing World” and it has been fun to hear how our spirits have unpacked the theme so far.

Last week in my devotional by Dr. Paul David Tripp, he addresses hope. It was too good not to share with you as we begin this new week:

We constantly speak in hope language:
“I hope my company does well.”

“I hope he isn’t mad at me.”

“I hope God really does answer prayer.”

“I sure hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.”

“I hope this sickness isn’t something serious.”

If you are a human being, you hope. You attach your security, your sense of peace and rest to something every day. The question is not whether you hope, but what holds your hope. Take a moment to think about hope with me:

  1. You hope in something. You could argue that the life of a human being is propelled by hope. From the little momentary hope of the young child for food or a toy to the profound hope of the young adult for meaning and purpose, we all hope. We all place our hope in someone or something, and we ask that person or that thing to deliver something to us. What are you placing your hope in right now?
  2. Hope is a lifestyle. Your hope shapes the way you live. Your hope causes you to make the decisions that you make. A lack of hope causes you to feel stuck and de-motivated. Confident hope makes you decisive and courageous. Wobbly hope makes you timid and indecisive. Hope is not just something you do with your brain. You always live your hope in some way.
  3. Most of our hopes disappoint us. We all do it. We place our hope in things in this fallen world that simply can’t deliver. Your spouse can’t make you happy. Your job won’t make you content. Your possessions can’t satisfy your heart. Your physical health won’t give you inner peace. Your friends can’t give you meaning and purpose. When our hopes disappoint us, it is a sign that we’ve put our hopes in the wrong things.
  4. There are only two places to look for hope. The theology of hope is quite simple. There are only two places to put your hope. You rest the hope of your life in the hands of the Creator or you look to the creation for hope.
  5. Hope in God is sure hope. When you hope in the Lord, you not only hope in the One who created and controls the universe, but also in One who is glorious in grace and abounding in love. Now, that’s hope that is well placed and will never disappoint.

Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 5094-5111). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Good stuff for us to remind ourselves as we begin this new week of Freedom Fighter blogs. Thanks for engaging with us.

Overflowing and abounding with hope,

Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Zephaniah 1-3 |You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

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Think About This: Hope for the believer is not a dream of what could be, but a confident expectation of a guaranteed result that shapes his life.

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

 

Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 5093-5094). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

 

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