Hope First and Foremost



Mount Rainier by Dee Kamp

Hope First and Foremost

 A new bird has appeared in our yard this year. He’s a perky and oddly friendly. It called an Olive Catcher. He isn’t shy and catches my attention constantly as he saunters across the deck or stares at me from the railing. We’ve simply named him New Bird.

For some time now whenever I would see New Bird I felt the Lord whisper in my heart to pray in a new way.  

 Well, what is the new way? I wondered to myself. Then the answer came when I least expected it, in that sweet hour of prayer He led me to Romans 15.

 “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled….I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:4, 13 NLT

The Lord wants us to pray for ourselves and others, not just for things, but that first we pray they have hope in Christ Jesus.

God, our Abba Father always has our best interest on His heart and He knows it is hope in Him that will give us the courage we need to face life today.

There is more to hope than good wishes and optimistic points of view. Faith in the Lord Jesus is the anchor of our hope. We have the confidence that He loves us, and He always keeps His promises. His hope is greater than any of the challenges or disappointments we face.

Hope comforts our souls. Hope is the key to key to endurance, to encouragement. Hope produces peace that passes all understanding and hope fills our hearts with love and joy.

Pray yes indeed, but in a new way, pray for hope first and foremost.

“Hope First and Foremost” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© July 9, 2014