25TH OCTOBER

ABOUNDING IN HOPE

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

The mass media are filled with news of disaster, violence, corruption,
incompetence and other depressive reports that take away our joy and
peace and gives the feeling of hopelessness.

In an experiment at McGill University, Canada, researchers found that people are more drawn to negative news. They concluded that our vigilance for threats, as a signal to change what we are doing to avoid danger, explains our predilection for bad news.

Another interpretation is that our attraction to bad news is not just journalistic cynicism or a hunger springing from the darkness within but we think the world is rosier than it actually is, which makes bad news all the more surprising and salient. Against this light background they say, the dark spots are highlighted.

Whatever research finds, we know that man struggles to find joy and peace.
There is an increase in depressive disorders and suicide, even among youths. Our text for today is a prayer for us to focus on our unfailing God, who is the Source and Giver of true hope. Abraham firmly believed God’s promise, hoping against hope that he would be the father of many nations. The promise was eventually fulfilled and is still being fulfilled!

It is as we lift up our cups to be filled and refilled from Christ, the infinite Source of the water of life, that we are filled with the mountain-top experiences of inner joy and peace – not based on our life situations or the happenings around us but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

ACTION: Walk by faith and hope in God’s Word and not by sight, hearsays or the media.

PRAYER: Almighty God, I receive your filling of joy and peace as I abound in hope with thanksgiving in Jesus’ name. Amen