Scripture

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.

Observation

We who are strong in faith must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like food and special days. We must not just please ourselves, but try to lift up others.

We are to accept one another in the same way that Christ accepted us. Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God keeps His promises. He also came to the Gentiles so that we, too, can give glory to God.

Application

God is the source of our hope. Anything else that we look to for our security or significance is an idol. It is God who saves us and raises us up to eternal life.

He will fill us with joy and peace if we let Him. These things are part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As we walk with Jesus and look to the Holy Spirit, He will cause joy and peace to grow in us.

Because I know that God loves me, I can trust that every part of my life is being redeemed and used to His glory. What joy fills my heart to know that I am loved by the Creator of the world.

Because God loves me and is in control of my life, then no matter what I am going through, I can walk in peace. His serenity, His shalom bring quietness to my heart when all around me is in turmoil.

My life is not meaningless. I have purpose and I am being trained for eternal life in heaven. I may not always understand why things are the way they are, but I have hope, a future to look forward to.

All of this is grace,a gift from the Holy Spirit. I don’t deserve any of it, but He gives it to me anyway.

Prayer

God of all hope, I thank you for loving me and overflowing me with joy and peace. Amen.