God of Hope,
Praise be to you, O Lord our God, for the Hope you give us through the ministry of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Thank you that we who were once separate from Christ and without hope have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ. Thank you for the gift of salvation you offer to us and for the voice of the Holy Spirit planted within believers, which points them toward encouragement and hopefulness. God, the battles of this world, especially in this past year, have left many people feeling as if they have little hope left. For families, business & employment dreams, relationships, health of bodies, livelihoods, and the comfort of day-to-day normalcy that all seem to be battered, torn, or even destroyed – we thank you that you are faithful to never leave us for forsake us. Instead, you want to pour your hope into our lives. Show us believers how we can give hopefulness to those whose hope is gone. Show us who needs to hear our story of the hope we have in Jesus Christ so that they may also come to faith. Show us how to lovingly invite them to a new and/or deeper relationship with You so that you may fill them will all joy and peace as they trust in you. Help us to labor and strive to persuade others of the Good News of Jesus. May we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit so that all around us will know their hope is in you. In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen.
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. (Rom. 15:13)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. (2 Cor. 5:11)
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth… remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:11-13)
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. (1 Tim. 4:10)