CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 721

“Fueling Hope”

Psa 33:13 – 22 (NIV)    From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches  all who live on earth … the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,  to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

—————————————————

‘This is hopeless!’ He exclaimed after receiving another job application rejection letter. ‘Again they say that I am over qualified. Who will hire someone at my age in this economy?’

Across town an employed salesperson complains about yet another rejection. ‘No one is upgrading or investing in this economy. How am I going to earn enough commission to pay the bills? There is no hope in keeping our house out of foreclosure.’

Next door a husband and wife stressed by two full-time jobs loudly argue about how their money is to be spent and how the care for their children and household chores are to be done. Intimacy and love has grown cold and they both secretly wonder if there is any hope for their marriage.

Our enemy, the Devil, is in the ‘Hope Stealing’ business. If he can convince you that there is no hope for the future, he can immobilize your spiritual growth and hinder your testimony of faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

Faith is fueled by the certainty and conviction of our hope in the Lord. A lack of hope destroys individual lives, marriages, and ministries. Jobs and businesses are lost when people lose hope for the future and cease investing effort. A lack of hope leads to depression. The World Health Organization reports that depression is the strongest risk factor leading to suicide. On average there is one suicide every 16.2 minutes. Teen suicide is at an epidemic rate (11 per day) because of a lack of hope.

…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. – Isa 40:31

We allow Satan to steal our hope when we lose sight of who God is and who we are in Him. God wants our hope to be placed in His unfailing love. We allow our hope to be stolen when we vainly place our hope in ourselves and our abilities. We fancy ourselves as ‘survivors’ able to make it through any trial on our own wits, abilities, and strength. Others foolishly place their hope in bank accounts, their employer, spouse, parent, or a friend. Misplaced hope is easily stolen bringing us to the brink of destruction.

Fuel your faith by solidly establishing your hope through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. May His light burn brightly in your life, no matter your circumstances, so that He may light the path for others in need of Him through your lifestyle example of faith.

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. – Rom 15:13

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God