The Greek definition of hope means "to be intensely expectant, to be confidently looking forward to something you fully expect to happen."
Do you desire something in your life? Do you desire to have your whole household saved? Do you desire to be out of debt, and to help meet the needs of others and give into the work of God? That hope or anticipation can be the anchor of your soul. Hope helps you set divinely-inspired goals.
What is the meaning for the word anchor? Anchor is defined as "something that serves to hold an object firmly in place." An anchor keeps you from drifting. Hope can keep our soul - which is made up of our mind, will, emotions, and thinking faculites - at rest in turbulent waters.
When the waves are crashing against your ship, and you're in the middle of the storm, the anchor of hope serves its purpose by keeping you at rest. That hope keeps you from drifting off into troubled waters.
We experience the greatest battle in our mind. When you have prayed and believed God for certain things, and your head starts telling you there's no way this is going to happen, hope is the expectation that will anchor your soul and straighten up your thinking. Hope will keep you at rest, firm and steady, when your mind is being bombarded by thoughts of giving up.
David says in Psalm 42:4-11 (Living Bible), Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them!)... singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and gloomy, but I will meditate upon your kindness... But O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act!
Don't forget all those times God answered your prayers and performed miracles in your life. Remembering those impossible situations He brought you out of will cause hope to rise up on the inside of you and anchor your soul!
You have to make your mind, will, emotions, and thinking faculties line-up with what the Word of God says. You have to tell your soul to have hope, to not give up, and to trust God!
What does hopeless mean? The dictionary defines hopeless as: "despondent, void of hope, and despair." Have you ever seen anyone in total despair? All thought of changing is gone, and they can't even imagine their life being different. Hopeless means incurable, or irreparable. But, thank God, we have the "giver of hope" on the inside of us. As long as you have hope in God, you have an anchor for your soul.
Romans 15:4 says, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. The Scriptures give you comfort, hope, and rest. You must dwell on what God says about your circumstances.
Faith is calm assurance that God will completely take care of you and meet your every need. Your mind, will, emotions, and thinking faculties shall rest in expectancy, anticipation, and in the desire that God has for you.
Whatever situation you're in, know that the Word of God has been written for your learning and your comfort. The Scriptures will be soothing to your mind. Whatever it is that you're desiring: financial break-through, healing, loved ones saved, you are to abound in hope. We need to expect these things to happen in our lives.
Hope is a vital ingredient. You must have it. In every situation, you need to go to the Word of God. It's your reference, your guide by which you judge everything. The Word of God has an answer to it, and that Word will bring comfort to you in every situation in your life and will cause you to become alive!
Today's Scriptures: Jeremiah 17:7; Psalms 42:1-11
Excerpt permission granted by Jerry Savelle Ministries International