“When you give up on hope, you become paralyzed in the present and begin to live in the past.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 115). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

I’m not sure why I have been drawn to deal with the subject of despair and of hope. It may be because you need to have the message of hope reinforced within you because you are about to give up on hope. You are about to be paralyzed in your present.

There is a way of looking at your past and living in your present and believing in your future that makes life worth living. It is a connection with God that makes this true. Prayer goes a long way to making it happen. If you have a relationship with God prayer is a privilege and a vital part in that relationship making a difference in your life.

Here is a simple idea in having prayer relieve your despair and enhance your hope. It is the three pronged approach of praise, thanks, and request.

First of all, start your prayer with praise. Praise is focusing on who God is not what He’s done. God is love; God is all-powerful; God is all-knowing; God is everywhere; God is over all; God is unchangeable; God is everlasting: God is gracious; etc. That sets your focus on Who you are talking to.

Then you thank Him for what He has done for you, what He has given you. He has given you life; He has given you the opportunity of another day; He loves you; He forgives you; He cares for you; He is interested in you; He has given you… you finish the statement.

By focusing on Who He is and acknowledging what He has done for you that gives you confidence to come to Him with your needs and your requests. And that’s where your hope comes from. It’s through connecting to Him in prayer.

Do you do that when you are down or do you focus on all the bad that is in your life? Life is tough. It really is but God is love and He has given you a means to connect with Him. He says over in 1 Peter 5, “to cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” The psalmist in chapter 62 (MS) says “Everything I need…hope for comes from Him.” And then the part that I underlined in my time of reading this Psalm this morning, “Strength comes straight from God.” So there you have it.

So quit being paralyzed in your present and living in your past by giving up on hope. Don’t give up, pray. “Strength comes straight from Him.”

So where is your focus today?

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