Scriptures:
Romans 5:1-5
Matthew 5:11,12
James 1:1-4,12
Devotional:
As we enter into a new year, many of us have different dreams and aspirations about what we want to achieve or what we want to see God do. Often times I have come to realize that we also tend to unintentionally bring old mindsets, old hurts and old disappointments with us as well. So, While we are trying to believe for more, we find ourselves hindered by past experiences. Which in turn, causes us to not fully trust God enough to manifest our decrees. But as we are going to study in this devotional, though at times we may waver in our belief, if our hope is sustained, we will persevere.
In this text, Paul was writing to the Romans with the intent of convincing everyone that the only one way to salvation which is being justified by Faith in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.(Romans 5:1)
Thus, according to God’s law, none of us were capable of upholding it’s requirements but now being justified from that law by faith because of His grace, we have a peace in God.
But this in found peace does not come without challenges and trials. We often times find ourselves on the recipient end of more attacks when we are trying to do good then when we were doing bad. It is in this place that it becomes hard and difficult to trust God. The attacks have one sole purpose, to deter our faith and kill our hope. See, Faith is needed to please God and He uses our faith to move on our behalf. Some of you may have experienced this in the previous year; decrees were made and prophecies spoken over us, but the year ended without seeing a manifestation.
So, where do we go from here?
Was the word wrong?
Did God chose not to do what He said?
I’m sure some of you may have thought this at some point coming into this year. Now, we find ourselves caught in-between believing God for more and holding on to the disappointments of the past. How can I trust God is going to do something Big in my life when it seems I have no hope left? The answer to that question may be simpler that what you imagine. See, you have more faith and hope in God then what you think. Don’t believe so? Then why haven’t you given up on God yet? Even with all the disappointments and let downs you have experienced from believing in God. Why do you continue to pursue Him? Cause in spit of it all, there is something deep down that just won’t allow you to let go of God. It’s this hope that makes us continue to believe God is going to do what He said. And just when you are about to reach your breaking point, God loves you just enough to cause you to believe again.
This is not a form of manipulation, but rather it is God’s way of leading you to green pasture, just like a good Shepard would. There’s more in store, but He has to lead us there before we are able to experience the manifestation. Every thing we go through builds us, the scripture says:
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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.” (Romans 5:3-5)
Therefore we praise while in the midst of the storm, that’s why we keep shouting even while going through, cause we know God is just building our hope. And this hope, is not going to disappoint, but rather it’s to help push you to more, push you to greater and push you to Big!
Life Changing Hope 