Desires of the Heart

And his name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21 (NLT)

Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust.

What do you hope for? Many hope for joy, peace, love, health, or even riches. When we hope, or desire for something it guides our attitudes and actions. If we have hope we continue walking the path towards that desire. When we lose hope our heads and hearts find a new low. Friend let me tell you, if our hopes are misaligned, you can be certain they will not fulfill the desire within us. Sure we can have temporary happiness, good health, or money, but these things will not fill the true longing within us. The hope that naturally burns within us can only be fulfilled by the Creator of that hope.

So let me ask you a better question, what do you hope in? There are many things we can place our hope in. Unfortunately, we often place our hope in ourselves. We think we can bring about our own success, happiness, and fortune. Remember the cliche, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it”. Well, I am here to cast down that lie. We can not achieve anything that we hope for. When we begin to realize this, we then reach out to others. We depend on relationships to fulfill our longings. Don’t get me wrong, relationships are a vital part of our lives. We were created to fellowship and exhort, lift up, one another. However, just as we are unable to fill our desires, neither are our fellow men. But don’t lose hope! There is One whom we can place our hope in and He is faithful to fulfill that deep longing within us. That One is Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

This Christmas let us stop striving and let Jesus fill us. When all else fails He is still here. I encourage you to lose hope. Yes, lose hope in all the things of this world. Build a new hope this year. A hope that will not disappoint. The world may crumble around us in sin, sickness, poverty, war, and heartache, but Jesus still stands. In this world we will have heartache, but He has overcome the world. Keep your eyes on the prize my friends. Our eternal salvation and the relationship that God offers us through His Son is far greater than anything we can “achieve” on this earth. We can live full of hope, knowing He is for us not against us. He has plans for us now, and for eternity!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Many years ago the Israelites waited expectantly for a Messiah. The good news is, He came! Sadly, many missed His arrival and message although He was in their midst. Let us not miss the goodness of His presence this year! Let our hearts be filled with hope, trusting in Him. Let us take time to sit in His presence and be filled with His love, joy, and peace.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13

Dear Lord, fill us with hope today! Let us take our eyes off of the world around us and place them on you, the true source of hope! Fill us with longing to sit in your presence. Guide our attitudes and actions to reflect that hope. We know that you are the One we can trust to give us true love, joy, and peace. Use us Lord to light the way for others to find this hope. Amen.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)

Dig Deeper: Read Romans 5

Worship Links: Living Hope & Never Walk Alone