PRISONERS OF HOPE

I often ask the Lord for a word in due season. One that will encourage a heart that may need it that would stop by the blog. This morning..I'm resharing something that I need to be reminded of. Hope....can't live without it.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:1-3

When I was raising my children I never wanted to break a promise to them. I tried to under promise and over deliver because I didn’t want to hear their words of disappointment claiming, “You promised.” I wanted them to trust and believe me, and know that their mother was a woman of her word. Therefore, I often had to add qualifiers…. if it doesn’t rain, if your dad gets home in time etc.

Our Father shows even more care in fulfilling His promises. Joshua 21:45 could proclaim, “Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”NASB He had promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses a land and even though they were long gone, He kept His word. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” Hebrews 11:13a NIV

I am brought to my knees by the faithfulness of God. Not one of His promises to us will fail. Even when we close our eyes in death we can rest assured that His promise to us will be fulfilled even if we don’t get to see it come to pass in our life time. He is a covenant making God, a promise keeping God and we who know Him are “prisoners of hope”.

There have been times in my life when I wanted to suppress my expectations because I didn’t want to deal with another round of disappointment. I was sure the fulfillment of a promise was just around the corner and it wasn’t. I found that I couldn’t continue very long in a pit (that is where it takes us) of hopelessness. It was not because I was such a woman of faith, but because He is and always has been a God who keeps His word. As I stayed in His word, and prayed His word the faith, hope, and confidence in His loving heart would rise once again. In Zechariah 9:12 Israel is told to return to their “stronghold” you prisoners of hope. In this Scripture the stronghold is a good thing. It is a high place, a fortress of safety and I would much rather live there than in a pit of doubt and unbelief.

I was given a Fruit of the Spirit Bible by a dear friend. One morning as I was reading my eyes fell on this remark in the notes, “Jesus, if I do not see your promises fulfilled today, I will set my alarm extra early tomorrow morning." I believe that is a heart attitude that is a delight to our Father and will strengthen those who live with us or around us.

Are you in a pit of hopelessness? Are your eyes on the problem or the promises? Lift your eyes to the One who does not lie and cannot go back on His word. Return to your place of safety. Trust in Him at all times O people. By all means pour out your heart to Him; He will be your refuge. Psalm 62:8 NASB Tell Him you are struggling. He already knows it, so ask Him to restore you to that place of safety. Trust Him.

Lord, I believe you are at work even when I don’t see your hand. You are trustworthy and I am a prisoner of hope. Thank you for your covenant keeping ways and your unfailing love.