KINGDOM HOPE 2023

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

It has been a long while since my last post here. But we have started a new year. New Beginnings. “New” word for the year. Last year’s word was “Victory,” which I said very little about during the year. I did live in Victory as God brought me through a kidney cancer diagnosis. My word the previous two years was “Revival.” That word still burns inside of me. I firmly feel that revival is coming, a revival like never before. I am consumed by that hope.

That word, hope, was one of the first works of the year when I started picking words of the year, and this year I am returning to it. I had no idea what my word would be this morning. I wasn’t even thinking about one. A dear friend has sent me, among other things, a deck of cards, “101 favorite Bible verses for Men,” for Christmas. Each card has a bible verse on each side of the card, one Old and one New Testament verse. I decided I would pick a card and write about one of the two verses. Today’s selection is from the New Testament side and the next post will from the Old Testament side.

As soon as I pulled the card and read both sides, I realized I had a “2-fer.” I got something to write about and I had my word for the year – HOPE!

The first time selecting “hope,” I focused on the hope I had in Jesus Christ. I now see the above Scripture in a new light. Scriptures tell us that all who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. He will shower those who believe with immeasurable blessings. But that’s only half of it. Paul prays above that God will fill us with all joy and peace because of our belief. But then he continues by praying that you would abound in that hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scriptures tell us that we are to share the blessings with others and not hoard those blessings.

Believe in God. Receive blessings of joy and peace (and hope). Walk in it. So much joy and peace, you will abound in it. More than you could use. It will shine from you and thus provide hope to those around you. That’s what Paul is trying to tell us. Not only to live in hope but by doing so, give hope to others.

Be Blessed!