Listen in as Paul prays… it’s just a short prayer, but marvel at its magnitude!
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Paul was praying for the church at Rome. He’d never met these people, but he’d heard of their faithfulness. “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world” (Romans 1:8). They were brothers and sisters in Christ, so Paul prayed for them.
As Paul prayed, he addressed his Heavenly Father, “the God of Hope!”
Biblical hope is not like a flimsy wish. “I wish it would rain.” “I wish I’d win the lottery.” “I wish I could lose some weight.” Biblical hope is a confident assurance of a future reality. We hope in the glorious return of our Conquering King. He’s coming soon! We long for, and hope for, the paradise prepared for us, a home for eternity. We hope for Heaven!
Our God is not the God of good luck. He’s not the God of “I wish it were so...” He’s “the God of Hope.” In Christ Jesus, we can securely anchor our souls. He’s the God of Confident Assurance. He is our “Living Hope” (1 Peter 1:3) and our “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:13).
Paul prayed that the “God of Hope” would graciously and abundantly “fill (his brothers and sisters) with all joy and peace” and that they would “overflow with hope.” When’s the last time we prayed for our family to be filled with “joy and peace”? Do we pray that our friends would “overflow with hope”?
In this fallen world, joy, peace, and hope are not natural or normal. These are gifts given by the “by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Joe Blow doesn’t wake up one morning and declare, I’m going to overflow with peace today. Nope! It is only by the “power of the Holy Spirit” that we enjoy these supernatural gifts.
“Lord, teach us to pray!” (Luke 11:1). And Lord, remind us to seek Your joy, peace, and hope… for ourselves and for those around us.
“… think on these things”(Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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