Are you looking forward to anything in particular - a vacation, a promotion, a date, an event?  I hope so, because hope helps you get out of bed in the morning; it gives you reason to press on.  

The apostle Paul described that when many things of this world have pass away, faith, hope and love will remain. (1 Corinthians 13:13)  Our belief in Jesus will last forever.  And, hope will serve as fuel for our lives in heaven just as it does now.  Hope is a positive anticipation of what is to come.  It energizes and stimulates us; it fixes our attention on the future.

Hope is like medicine to our soul; it makes us feel better.  When you are hopeful about something, you feel excited and happy.  Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)  Hope, when related to the things of God, is often accompanied by joy and peace.  When we are hopeful concerning what God will do, we can stop striving and worrying - as if it all rested on our shoulders.

Step back and consider yourself as God's creation.  Consider His desires and purposes for you, and His willingness to work in and through you toward His intended and good will.  Allow joy and peace to seep into your mind and soul, replacing feelings of fear and anxiety.  If you agree and cooperate with God, what really can stand against His will in your life?  Aligning your hopes with God's will begins to multiply the hopeful tone of your life.  Soon your hopefulness begins to overflow, and its current starts to sweep other people into its flow.

Hope can give us "super human" courage to persevere.  Hope helped Jacob to work hard in order to marry his wife.  "Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:20)  And, "for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross ..." (Hebrews 12:2)  His hope of heaven, and His hope of all the people purchased for the Kingdom of God through His death on the cross, empowered and fueled Jesus' ability to withstand His torture and death.

What hopes do you think God has for you?  What does He want to do in your life?  What does He want to accomplish through you?  How does He want to use you to impact your family for generations to come?  Tie your hope to God's will in these areas. Place your faith in Him to lead you and guide you through the fulfillment of His destiny for your life.  Your ever-growing hope in Jesus, His purposes and work in your life will overflow and positively impact others.