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
Are you feeling a little bit down today? Maybe you have experienced some anxiety. One month is ending and another is beginning. The days fly by, the weeks, the months, the years. And, occasionally, there are days you might feel less radiant and alive than you know you ought to. Perhaps your outlook on the future has dimmed. God has given you the off-ramp from that racetrack of discouragement. He has provided you with His blessing!
This begins with God Himself! In Paul’s prayer invoking God’s blessing in today’s verse, he uses the word “all.” In the Greek, this means without exception. The apostle is not praying for some peace, a fraction of joy, a percentage of hope. Instead, he is looking for all that God has promised to those who love Him. J.B. Phillips’ translation of today’s verse reads, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant and alive.” Theologian Charles Hodge says that “all“ means all that is possible. Theologian Warren Wiersbe says that what God gives is “inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances.” Calling it “holy optimism,” he says that “Holy Spirit empowered hope, joy and peace keep the Christian going in spite of difficulties.”
God is your Source. The Scriptures are a means of delivering His blessings to you. Prayer is your thankful worship that acknowledges He is the One “from Whom all blessings flow.” Faith is the doorway through which these blessings come into your life. You can choose to close that door to your heart, or you can open it wide. God yearns to fill you with these blessings. Let the Holy Spirit fill you today. Choose to receive His blessing!
Today’s Verse: Romans 15:13
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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Peter 1:13-21
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
