Prisoner of Hope

When all we feel is utter hopelessness by faith we can still choose to believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We can be, as worded in Zechariah 9:12 “prisoners of hope”

"Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you."

-Zechariah 9:12

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In her book, "Unexpected," Christine Caine defines hope as:

1. unshakable confidence in God

2. not denying the reality of your pain but it does give you a life beyond your pain

3. Permission to believe in a new beginning

4. Happy and confident expectations of good that lifts our spirits

5. Always looking to God with the expectation: Psalm 39:7 But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

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How to be a “prisoner of hope”:

1. Lock yourselves down in God’s promise of a future

2. Find fellow prisoners of hope that encourage your faith

3. Saturate yourselves in worship

4. Quiet the hopeless thoughts with the truth: read, believe, and pray scripture

Prisoners of hope declare there is no:

1. Need that God cannot meet

2. Mountain God cannot move

3. Prayer God cannot answer

4. Sickness God cannot heal

5. Heart God cannot mend

6. Door God cannot open

Prisoners of hope change their perspective:

1. Look at what we have left, not what we have lost

2. Believe the best, not assume the worst

3. Keep moving forward, not shrinking backward

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Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

What if we used Philippians 4:8 as a filter for our thoughts, posts on social media, conversations, family discussion, work meetings, phone calls: whatever is true, honest, just,

pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy think about such things.

Question: Rate yourself, scale of 1 to 10 how are you doing with this list?

Question: What are some ways you could live out your faith more during the week?

Question: How can you put others first and bring hope to those who need it this week?

Philippians 4:9 "Whatever you have heard or learned from me put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you."

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When we become prisoners of hope, God might lead us into a purpose and destiny that we might never had considered.

Prayer: God thank you for never leaving us. Thank you that we can count on you no matter how hard things get or how dark the world seems. Give us the courage we need to be lights and guide others toward the hope that only you can bring.

Benediction Prayer: 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.