4 Ways to Release Hope in 2017 by Debra Susan Bowman

No matter how hopeless your situation seems, if you know how to release new hope you can face your journey with courage, knowing hopeless will never win. Make 2017 a year of hope with these four strategies for hope when the road gets difficult and hopeless threatens.

H – is for Help

Hope happens when you help others. Bust through the wall of hopeless with action! Reach out. There’s no better way to get a big dose of hope for yourself than to go out and encourage someone else. What you dig deep for and find for others will come back to you.

O – is for Occupy

Occupy your thoughts with what God can do, not with what you can’t. Hopeless is more a matter of the heart than of the situation, so when you sense hopeless rising, change where you have your eyes. Eyes on your own ability – hopeless increases. Eyes on God’s ability – hope increases. You can occupy hopeless territory by occupying your thoughts with the Word of God rather than words of negativity and hopelessness.

P – is for Patience

In the midst of the fray you need to remember that it may take a little time for God to answer your prayers. So, don’t short circuit the arrival of your answer by losing control of your mind, your emotions or your mouth after you have prayed. Say good things about what God is going to do even while everything still looks hopeless and hope will arrive. James chapter one tells you to let patience have its full work after you have prayed and you will receive the wisdom to win.

E – is for Encourage

I Samuel chapter 30 says the enemy burned down David’s home city, took all his possessions and his family. At this lowest point of his life, when no one believed in him, verse thirty says he chose to encourage himself. If no one else is there to encourage you, encourage yourself! Tell yourself you are a winner. You will come out the other side. God will help you. Be mentally tough. You are not entitled, so no excuses. You have to want it, will it and go after it. Put one foot in front of the other and it’s amazing where you will go! Make your problem bigger than God and you have hopeless. Make God bigger than your problem and you have hope. Exercise your body and you will feel better. Exercise your right to victory as a child of the King!

I’m so hopeful for you now! You have an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around you in 2017. Your kids and grandkids will reap the benefits far into their future, so chose H.O.P.E. right now! Remember hope is a person. When you invite Jesus into your situation you are inviting hope! He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Let Him in and you let hope in this year.

Love, Debbie

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