Today I want to share from "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince. He speaks of what the word 'hope' has become in our thinking! And how to change that wrong perception!
HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Today, we express hope as if we can’t be sure what will really happen.
We say, “I hope I will win that prize. I hope it won’t rain tomorrow. I hope
everything works out well.”
But “hope” in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of
good. God wants you to have a confident expectation of good because as His
child, He favors you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians
1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area of your life,
including your family, job, ministry, health and finances!
God’s Word says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God
has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” You
may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not
disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is a hope that
springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.
It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book
of Romans is tied up with the love of God. The book of Romans is considered
foundational for Christians. Could it be that the first thing the Holy Spirit
wants to do is to establish in our hearts that God loves us? Many people think
that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power. But the truth is that the
Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!
My friend, you may have just lost your job. But if you can say, “Jesus
loves me this I know,” you can also say, “I believe that I will get a better
job tomorrow.” Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend. But
because you can say, “Jesus loves me this I know,” you can also say, “I’ll meet
a better girl.”
When you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive
expectation of good. You will have a hope that does not disappoint. So be
careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!
AMEN! I love this! When we realize that or thinking has been wrong, and are willing to change it to agree with God's Word, we will begin to see ourselves the way God sees us. HIS perception is the only one that we want! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":Shalom in Him!
