Prisoners Of Hope
When I encounter someone with a negative attitude and outlook, I jokingly say he/she is a “half-empty cup” kind of person. When we look at a half-full cup we have the choice to say it is half-empty or half-full. Either is grammatically and orthographically correct, yet different in that it reveals one’s overall perspective. The “half-full” attitude is positive and hopeful, whereas the “half-empty” is negative and doubting.
Hope is having a positive attitude and mindset. Hope refuses to be negative. Sure, everyone confronts the storms of life, but the hopeful person sees all things working together for his good. Hope is not a feeling but is a decision. To be positive and full of hope, we must set our mind on positive things. When I am being tempted to be negative, I quote to myself, Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” It is up to me whether I go up or down in my attitudes and outlook. You see, your attitude determines your altitude.
I love the expression, “prisoners of hope”, that we find in Zechariah 9:12. This means that whatever happens in our lives, we will refuse to stop hoping and trusting the Lord. If we are prisoners of hope, the enemy has no chance of defeating us with doubts and fears. All negative thoughts have no power over us, because we are bound to hope.
Those that are the prisoners of hope receive double for their trouble. Let’s read Zechariah 9:12, “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.” Wow, isn’t that great? You see, God is the God of Hope. His thoughts toward you are to bless you; to give you a hope and a future. Hope sees the circumstances as about to change, because God is in control.
In the book of Hebrews, hope is said to be the anchor of the soul, (6:19). An anchor keeps the ship from drifting. It holds the boat in place. The soul is the mind, emotions and will. The soul speaks this way: “I think, I feel and I want.” As we trust the Lord, we have peace of mind, joy in our emotions and a determination to go forward.
Hope is having a positive expectation. Don’t let the adversities of life blow you around. Drop your anchor in hope and trust in God. You will never be disappointed. He is waiting for you to step out in faith and look up.
Scriptures to Meditate on:
Zech. 9:12; Heb. 6:19; 12:3; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Phil. 4:8-9; Romans 15:13