Many people today are depressed and discouraged because they seem to only focus on their current circumstances. They are constantly thinking about their problems, what they don’t have and what is wrong with them. They don’t seem to realize that they are allowing the enemy to steal their hope. This (negative) state of mind is what prevents people from moving forward in their lives.

If you seem to be concentrating mostly on what’s wrong or not working, then it’s time to dig up your tent stakes! It’s time to pack up your belongings and get out of the land of despondency. Stay away from the “It’s not going to happen” subdivision. It is also time to leave the “states of self-pity”. Stop living in those areas and move to the land of hope, faith and expectation!

Maybe you don’t really know how to get there? Simply open your heart to the Lord and ask him in prayer to direct your thoughts and expectations. You must understand that having strong faith is also having firm and unshakable confidence and security about the things that we hope will actually happen.

Your time is coming! The dreams and desires, the things you want to achieve, the situations you want to see changed will happen. Just because it has taken you longer than you expected, or because you have tried and failed, never give up on those dreams. Never be complacent in seeking what God has put on your heart!

“But these things I plan will not happen immediately. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time is drawing near when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely happen. It will not be delayed.” (Habakkuk 2:3 NLT)

 Can you have hope without faith? Like an arrow, your faith points to the target of hope. If you don’t have faith, that arrow will lose its momentum and just fall to the ground before reaching the target, and it won’t achieve its goal. When your faith is strong and unwavering, and you continue to hope and believe, you will give your arrow the momentum to hit the target!

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will really happen; it gives us security about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT)

Why not start today to choose to live with an attitude of expectation? Begin by taking captive any negative thoughts you may have (one at a time). Choose to turn God’s cares and worries over to God, then stay focused on the goodness in your life. Get your hopes up! As you focus on your faith and the goodness of God, you will begin to feel your hope grow within you. You will really give your faith a purpose and start moving forward with confidence. Then pray and thank God for the gift of faith to see the impossible become possible as you continue to wait for what He has placed on your heart.

“So let us approach the throne of our merciful God with confidence. There we will receive mercy from him, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)

Notice in the verse above that God does not say, “Come to me with a weak, defeated, and pitiful attitude.” He does not say: “Come to me thinking of all your failures and how unworthy you are.” No, says God, come to Me with confidence. Come to Me with your head held high, knowing that I am a merciful God, and that I truly want to help you!

Start declaring today: “My time is drawing near…God is working behind the scenes on my behalf…I will fulfill my destiny…I will fulfill God’s plan for my life!” As you declare, wait, and wait for the appointed time, your faith will grow. Your hope will grow. And you will enter the destiny that God has in store for you!