Friday, July 3, 2015

Hope That Overflows

HOPE: Mixed Media Sakura Ink, Colored Pencils and Watercolor

What is hope? 

Strong's Concordance defines it this way. 
elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.

Does your heart dare to hope?
And if so, what do you hope for ?
My heart dares to believe the promises of God. 

The Apostle, Paul, prayed, "Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
 I want my heart to overflow with hope and to be filled with all joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Steve Backlund writes. "Hope is the joyful expectation that good is coming."

In the book of Hebrews, we read "Now, faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen." 

Both of the scriptures denote the hopeful confidence and expectation of a future event, that is not yet seen. 
I think of promises in the Scriptures that I am waiting on for their manifestation and fulfillment in my life, especially promises regarding healing. I think of prophetic words that have been spoken over me through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I think of words I have written in my journals that I know, that I know, that I know are from God. Yet some of these words and promises seem to be in direct opposition to my current circumstances. But, still, I WILL hope. 

As of this writing, I battle unrelenting pain and fatigue in my physical body. Some of my family members also battle serious, chronic health issues. I am tempted, many times, to give in to fear and discouragment. That is when the Holy Spirit comes and gives me divine enablement to persevere. 

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Romans 5:5 says We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

We have the very Spirit of God, pouring out His love into our hearts as we confidently wait, expect, hope. 

Paul writes, of Abraham, "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping--believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!"
"Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;…"
"As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not."

Think about that ! We can have hope because Abraham hoped against hope that God's promise to him, approximately 25 years previously, would come to pass. God is never late. He is always right on time. 

Hebrews 10:23 says "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."







2 comments:

  1. Your art, God's Word and your words so very beautiful! Hope is my word for 2015. I'm printing this and adding to my HOPE art/written journal for 2015. Thank you for blessing me with this and keeping my focus this year on His HOPE! Praying for your healing, dear sister.

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  2. Thank you Kathryn for these hopeful words and for sharing your art!

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