Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 AMP
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How many times have we thought, “I am such a worthless sinner, how can God possibly love me, now?” My friend, Paul so eloquently states here in these verses that, because of Jesus’ intercession on our behalf, we are able to enter into the presence of God.
I am currently re-reading Derek Prince’s book Faith to Live By. In his book, there is a chapter Faith versus Hope in which he states,
“Hope, in the biblical sense, is a confident expectation of good – a steady, persistent optimism. Hope protects our minds. Every Christian should wear a helmet of hope twenty-four hours a day. If we lay aside the helmet and begin to dwell on negative thoughts and gloomy forebodings, our minds are vulnerable to Satan’s subtle attacks.”
Our thoughts need to be focused on what is positive, good and worthy. Prayer—along with becoming aware of what we are thinking, watching, and listening to—will begin to change our thoughts and behavior patterns. It will not be given to us. We will have to focus on what is right.
God desires you to put Him first in everything. We are to trust in His ability to provide for our every need. Unless we train our minds to think like this, it is difficult to start. Remember how we constantly thought of our boyfriend or husband all the time in the beginning of our relationship? That is what God wants from us. I find myself starting off my day, thanking Him and asking for His provision as my day starts…but often I may not think about Him until lunch time or later in the afternoon. We need to be aware of Him in every aspect of our life. We need to fall in love with God again.
Our desires drive us. This week, let us begin again. Let us put aside our failures, our hurts, and put on the helmet of hope and ask God to show us how to love again as a child. A couple I serve with at church has a daughter who is almost 4 years old. I love how she declares Jesus to everyone. How she says Jesus died but rose again. I call her a little evangelist. She brings a smile to my face whenever I see her. I pray she never loses her child-like love for her heavenly Father. And I pray God will use her and our next generation in new and exciting ways!
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Father, we thank You for Your hope. Let our hope in You spill over to others. We pray for this helmet of hope to cover us and to be placed there when we forget to ask for it. Help us guard our hearts and minds against what would destroy us. Help us to learn to rebuke evil and to be brave when You call upon us to act. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
