The dictionary definition of hope is to expect, aspire, wish, aim, plan, dream, yearn, crave and to look, wait for and want something to happen.
Whenever we are believing, praying, aiming and expecting anything to happen in life hope is involved. Often when we think our faith is failing and we feel like nothing is happening it is not our faith but our hope that needs to be renewed and restored.
I’ve discovered that when I feel like my hope is fading and circumstances look like they are going in the wrong direction that I’d better sure up my hope because otherwise disappointment and fear will try to undermine my expectation and I’ll end up being temped to quit.
God’s Word actually teaches us that hope is more than a desire or wish for something to happen. Hope when and where we have God involved is a supernatural expectancy. It’s a hope that looks beyond the natural possibilities to those things that God has promised us in His Word and the agreement or covenant He has made with us to bring them to pass. Hope like this overrides natural abilities and circumstances and goes beyond to begin to see and know that all things are possible where God is involved.
Hope like this however isn’t just posessed by only knowing God’s promises, it also hinges on us seeing ourselves in possession of those promises rather than seeing ourselves without them.
If you’ve grown weary or been hit with circumstances, that might be tempting you to lose hope today don’t quit. Don’t think you don’t have enough faith to keep believing. You can have your hope restored.
When I feel my hope fading I seek to renew my hope by taking time to:
Get quiet and pray. Talk to God, listen, and read the bible and remind yourself of what He has promised. It’s in communication with God who is the ultimate source of supernatural hope and where we can hear from him directly that primarily restores our hope.
Be around encouraging people. The last thing we need are negative doubt feeders when we are believing for something to happen. Guard your heart and the building of your hope by surrounding yourself with people of hope and faith who will encourage you to not give up. It’s by faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12)
Listen, read, watch and talk about God’s promises. Listen to messages of hope and faith. There are some great preachers who constantly inject my life with hope. The world peddles doubt and fear, but if we feed our hope and faith and keep our focus on what God says it will restore our hope and expectation tor good things in our life.
Refuse to give up- when it comes to restoring hope and seeing those things that God has promised happen we have to be a bit feisty. To get our “fight on” and refuse to be distracted or to give up regardless. To not be moved by what is in front of us, but rather only be moved by what God says.
Keep your love on – our faith works through and by love. Keep short accounts, forgive, let go of offense and hurts quickly and give them over to Jesus. Don’t go to bed angry and guard your heart for its the wellspring of your life. One of the surest ways to eradicate hope is strife, anger and bitterness, so don’t be cheated out of the life God has for you by letting things crowd out the love God has put in your heart. Keep your love on!
Take time to start to renew your hope today and you’ll soon have an expectation that will keep your faith alive to bring all those things that God says are possible into your hands.
“May the God of hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.” (Romans 15:13 Amplified bible)
“So do not fear, for I am with ; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Prayer: Lord please help me to restore my hope today, and to keep believing for those things you have promised in your Word. In Jesus name Amen.
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