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PROGRAM D-8315
Would you say that you are a very hopeful person, or do you frequently find yourself drowning in hopelessness? Here are some suggestions from the book, The Hope Quotient by Ray Johnston, that will build your hope.
Invest in your own growth
When was the last time you did something to invest in your own growth and development? Paul wrote to young Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). I often pray these very words—that God will show me how to fan into a flame the gifts he has given me, not to ever settle for mediocrity or just okay. But this takes commitment, time, and effort. Claiming you don’t have time is just an excuse for remaining drained and hopeless.
Understand the power of worship
Ray writes that “Worship takes you to heights where worry, anxiety, stress and fear wither away and cease to gnaw at your life.” Worship, of course, is not just what you do in a church building. It is a daily practice of taking the focus off yourself and your to-do list, and spending time thinking about and worshiping the God who created you.
Unleash the Bible into your life
You cannot unleash hope into your life without truly making God’s Word the centerpiece of your life. You will be hopeless without it. A dear friend is right now going through some very deep waters, and I said to her, “Make sure you get into the Word and stay there. When you can’t sleep, read the Bible. When your heart is breaking, read the Bible. It will restore your hope.”
Build great relationships
We need people who are on our side. Loneliness is rampant in our culture today. If you are isolating and basically trying to go it alone, you will find yourself fighting discouragement and hopelessness a lot. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says: “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.”
Your hope must be renewed daily. Will you say with the Psalmist: We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).
Remember, hope is a choice you make, not an emotion you feel. You can unleash the power of hope in your life—through Jesus and to his glory.