Thankful Thursday

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4



As always, on Thankful Thursday there are always so many things to consider to talk about, but today I'm most grateful for the HOPE I have as a believer in Christ. Yes, this listed as one of the three greatest gifts God has given us, Faith, Hope, and Love. To have Hope is crucial in the life of a believer. No matter what has happened in the past, what is going on in the present, or what will come in the future, God’s promise stands firms that He will always be there for us. In Hebrews Hope is called the “anchor for the soul”. There are so many illustrations of what an anchor can symbolizes, such as, stability, security, safety, and the list goes on, but the real question is, “How do we obtain this great hope the Bible speaks about”?

Paul said we gain Hope through endurance, and by the Word of God”! It's holding on when you want to let go. It's believing and trusting even when things look bad. It's standing on the promises, even when you feel like all your strength is gone. Hope gives us a reason to “keep on keeping on”.

David truly understood what Hope was when he wrote, "My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my Hope in your word”. (PS 119:81). And a little further down in this same Psalm he wrote, "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word." (PS 119:114). It seems Hope centered on the unchangeable character of God and of His eternal promises spoken to us in His Word.

Thank God the He has given us so many precious promises. Our Hope keeps us from settling for human solutions, and it turns our eyes away from our momentary afflictions and helps us focus on the glory of God! I think if anybody could write about Hope it was Paul, who suffered so much affliction in his life and yet could still say to us, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12: 12).

Yes, Hope is truly a gift, and one that I am so thankful to have received from Jesus who is the Hope of the World.

My prayer for us all in this New Year is found in Romans 15: 13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Thanks Lynn for hosting this week's Thankful Thursday. Looks like we were on the same track!

You can go see what other's are thanking God for at Lynn's site now!