It seems that America and the whole world is poised in expectation and anticipation of hope in 2025. “Hope” describes the happy anticipation of good. We are looking forward to a change in our circumstances whether it be personal, as a family, in our government, economic conditions, job, schools, freedoms, health conditions, matters of faith and the list could go on and on. Both biblically and culturally hope is more than just a dream. Hope looks to the future, postured for something greater—that something will happen. Truly American and even the world was glued to the inauguration of our new President as he unfolded his plan for change with emphasis on returning to God and godly principles. The Bible reveals that God is the Author, not the subject, of hope. Both the Old and New Testaments connects hope to God. In Jeremiah 29:11 God promised His people that His plans are not meant for evil, but to give them “a future and a hope.” Paul in Romans 15: 13 addresses God as the “God of hope” that brings joy and peace to believers that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 5:5 we read Jesus is our hope, and no one can take that hope away. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” I read recently that hope is like a golden cord connecting us to heaven and the more we cling to this cord our burden is lightened. Whatever our circumstances, we must remember that as God’s people, we are a people of hope. God planted His hope not only in Israel, but in all of us. His plans are for good! As believers, we don’t just hope without any assurance. We can believe in faith that what we hope for is also done through Jesus. That is what it means to be partakers of His divine nature. Hebrews 11:1 makes it clear “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Paul affirms in Colossians 1:27 that “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” Therefore, the hope for America and the world lies not in human hands and solutions but in the God of all hope, through Christ in us, and the Holy Spirit that is poured out in us!
God gave me an acrostic for HOPE that I believe gives us the pattern for hope for us personally, in our nation and the world. Hear, Obey, Pray/Promises, Eternal. Truly, all our hope is in Jesus!
Hear - In the Gospels, Jesus speaks of those who have “ears to hear” at the end of a difficult saying or parable (e.g., Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9, 23). Who is “he who has ears to hear?” Better yet, who is “he who has ears?” Ears are a feature shared by all of humanity—to not have ears would be an unnatural occurrence. Therefore, when Jesus addresses those who have ears, He refers to all who have been given His words—no matter their age, ethnicity, language, or status. Whenever Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” He is calling for people to pay careful heed. It’s another way of saying, “Listen up! Pay close attention!” Speaking in parables was one way in which Jesus sought to gain the attention of the crowds —people love stories, and the parables depicted events and characters with which they could readily relate. But unless they were willing to tune out other distractions and come to Jesus to understand the meaning of His preaching, His words would be only empty stories. They needed more than ears, however keen they were; they needed ears to hear. Scripture is the cornerstone of what we believe—our faith—our hope. Listening to God involves making time for Him and being still to hear His voice. According to various sources, God speaks in different ways, including through the Bible, circumstances, and the guidance of other Christians. Here are some key steps and practices to help us hear from God:
Be Silent: Until you take time to be quiet, you won’t hear God. God cannot be heard in noise and restlessness; only in silence. This means finding a quiet place and time to be alone with God. Read the Bible: The Bible is God’s Word to us and is a primary way He communicates with us. As you read, the Holy Spirit can engage your mind, drawing your attention to particular concepts and verses. Pray: Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. When you pray, you can ask the Spirit to open your ears and empower you to perceive God’s words to you. Reflect and Meditate: Take time to reflect on what God is saying. Think about each word and give yourself time for prayerful contemplation until God’s heart is revealed and your heart is exposed. Listen with an Open Heart: Be open and receptive to God’s guidance and instruction and be willing to obey. This means trusting that God has a message that is personal for our provision, protection, and purpose. Eliminate Distractions: To truly listen to God, we need to eliminate distractions. This can be as simple as turning off our phone or finding a quiet place to pray. Regular Practice: Make time each day to listen to God. It’s not about how much time we spend but about making a consistent effort to engage with Him. By following these steps and practices, we can develop a deeper relationship with God and learn to hear His voice more clearly in our daily life. Don’t you think it is interesting that God saved Donald J. Trump’s life by allowing his ear to be pierced—getting his attention to LISTEN to Him as His anointed! Obey: Obedience is all that matters. If we are obeying Scripture and the voice of the Holy Spirit, God is pleased. “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) Scripture makes it very clear that what God wants most from us is our obedience. As soon as we realize this we will stop focusing on results and will start focusing on loving Jesus through our obedience. We need to stop obsessing about “what works” in our own minds, and trust and obey God. God is looking for His followers to be radically obedient. We all have to choose who we want to please, people or God? “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) Paul made it clear that if we are living to please people we are not servants of Christ. God will speak to those who ask Him to. He will continue to speak to those who obey when he does. The Holy Spirit will never contradict or add to Scripture. We will only recognize His voice if you know scripture. We cannot obey Him if you do not know Him. Once we know what the Lord says, we have a choice—believe Him, obey, and commit to living God’s way or continue according to our own understanding. (What does this mean to me?) God is a God of grace and if we repent of our disobedience and ask His forgiveness He gives it. I personally believe from studying scripture that God still speaks to us today as He always has. For example, there are things God has spoken to my heart and told me to do. We know it is God speaking when we are in fellowship with Him through His Holy Spirit in us. We do not only hear Him when we read scripture, but what He says to us always lines up with the truth of scripture. God wants to speak to us and wants us to listen and obey!
Pray/Promises: Praying the promises of God involves turning biblical promises into prayer, which can be a powerful way to strengthen faith and trust in God. Here are some key points and examples on how to pray the promises of God:
Understanding Promises: God’s promises are found throughout the Bible and can be claimed for our life. For example, Psalm 23:4 promises that even in the darkest valleys, God will be with us, providing comfort and protection. Examples of Prayers: We can pray specific promises back to God, asking Him to fulfill them in our life. For instance: Psalm 9: 18-20: “For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men.” Isaiah 41:10: “Lord, you have promised not to fear because you are with me, and not to be dismayed because you are my God. Please give me courage and strength in my current situation.” Praying with Humility and Expectancy: When praying God’s promises, it’s important to approach God with humility and a sense of expectancy. This means acknowledging our need for God’s help while also trusting that He will fulfill His promises. Scriptural Basis: The practice of praying God’s promises is rooted in biblical teachings. For example, Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Application in Daily Life: Praying the promises of God should be a daily practice, helping to navigate challenges and maintain a focus on God’s faithfulness. It can also be a way to pray for others, using God’s promises to intercede on their behalf. By incorporating God’s promises into our prayers, we can deepen your faith and experience God’s presence and power in our life. “For in Thee, O LORD do I hope, thou wilt hear, O LORD my God.” (Ps. 38: 15) Eternal Life: In our Messiah Jesus, we have a lot to hope for. We are bestowed great and precious promises. We are partakers of the divine nature and a living hope, says 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Faith in the resurrected Christ gives us “living hope” that extends beyond the grave. Whatever happens to us, we know our future. The Lord is already there, and He is preparing a place for us. Hebrews 6:19 gives us this assurance: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” We have an anchor that flies upward into heaven, behind the symbolic torn veil of the temple, and into the very presence of Jesus Christ. It grips the sure and certain hope that we have in Him. Today, we must anchor our mind, will and emotions in Christ who is our Blessed Hope both now and eternally. Chuck Swindoll wrote, “When we are overworked and exhausted, hope gives us fresh energy. When we are discouraged, hope lifts our spirits. When we are tempted to quit, hope keeps us going…When we fear the worst, hope brings reminders that God is still in control.” Hope is a solid expectation of certain future events which include the fulfillment of all God’s promises for us in this life and in the one to come. Looking to Jesus gets our hopes up! Bill Bright puts it this way: “With God life is an endless hope. Without God life is a hopeless end.” We have an eternal inheritance! Jesus said that instead of storing up wealth on earth where moth, thieves, and rust can ruin it, we should store up treasures in heaven where their value will never be diminished. (Mt. 6:20) Because our living hope is in Christ, our eternal inheritance will likewise live forever. It is “reserved in heaven” for us.
May God use these principles and scriptures to encourage us not to lose hope when we’re having difficulties and not sure what God is doing in our lives. We can lose hope because others have mistreated us or even because of our own mistakes. When we’re feeling sorry for ourselves and sinking into discouragement, we’re letting the biblical quality of hope erode in our minds. The scripture from I Peter 3 about our “living hope” assures us of God’s abundant mercy; about the importance of resting our hope fully on God’s grace (v. 13) and about projecting our hope forward in anticipation of Christ’s return. “Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (v. 21) “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” (Ps. 33: 20-22)—Our Hope for America and the world!