“Pour out to the God of hope and be filled.” That’s the theme for the 74th annual National Day of Prayer observed across America on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
While recently teaching a group of teenagers, one was taken aback when I said Christians ought to be the most peaceful, hopeful and joyful people alive, especially when we properly understand Bible prophecy. She later admitted that she was filled with anxiety over the future and her standing with God. We showed her several Scriptures that answered her questions and calmed her fears through faith in Christ.
Correctly understanding God and His promises brings peace, hope and joy amid chaotic and changing times.
This ties in beautifully with the theme verse selected for the National Day of Prayer, Romans 15:13. It states, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
These words form a powerful prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed over the Roman believers. He prayed that their faith in God would produce joy and peace as they rest in God’s secure arms. Knowing we are safe in Christ lets us “abound in hope.”
You see, friend, the more we know about how good and great God is, the easier it is to trust Him with everything we are and everything we have. No circumstance or problem is too difficult for God to handle. When we understand that, we can have peace and joy. No promise of God has ever failed. When we understand that, we can have abounding hope.
Did you notice that the verse says that it is the “God of hope” who fills us with hope? God doesn’t merely have hope; He is hope! As we spend time in His presence through reading His Word and prayer, our hope is renewed.
I’m not trying to claim that life will always be happy, easy and stress-free. The Apostle Paul, who penned Romans 15:13, knew what it was to suffer greatly, yet he remained content, joyful and hopeful.
How?
He lived a life of thankfulness.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). Paul didn’t write those words from a Mediterranean beachside villa. He wrote them from prison. Paul knew that praising God provides the proper perspective on our suffering, which produces joy, peace and hope even as we walk through those fiery trials.
Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done for you. Focus on thanking Him. Develop a spirit of gratitude in your daily walk with the Lord. As you praise Him, the seeds of joy, peace and hope will sprout in your spirit.
He remembered eternity.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
Paul experienced persecution, beatings, shipwrecks, poverty, hunger, death threats, serious health issues and loneliness for the cause of Christ. Yet, he remarkably called all those trials momentary, light afflictions. How could he say such a thing? He remembered this world and its problems are passing away, but there is coming a day when we will be with the Lord forever! He understood that God was working all things together for good.
You might be facing the darkest valley you’ve ever experienced right now. Remember what lies ahead for the child of God. We will be with Him at home in heaven for all eternity. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
He focused on the Lord.
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:7-8).
Paul knew that the greatest blessing in the world is to know the Lord Jesus Christ. He was willing to risk everything to know God more. He walked away from everything he had achieved in his religiosity because he realized it was garbage compared to knowing God.
We must keep our eyes on Jesus as we walk through dark days. We must remember that the greatest treasure in this world and all eternity is Him. The greatest part about heaven is not the streets of gold or seeing Christian loved ones. The greatest part of heaven is the Lord!
Friend, I don’t pretend to know what you are facing today. You might feel as if all hope, joy and peace are gone. Can I encourage you to go to God in prayer? Use this National Day of Prayer to draw closer to the God of hope, just as Paul did.
I pray the Lord ministers mightily to you to bring you His peace that passes all understanding to guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).
And if you’d like to join us in prayer for our communities and country on this National Day of Prayer, here are some prayer prompts based on Romans 15:13:
- Praise God for all He has done to give us joy, peace and hope.
- Praise God for His promise to fulfill our blessed hope one soon tomorrow.
- Pray that the people facing overwhelming circumstances will discover joy, peace and hope in Jesus.
- Pray for unbelievers who do not know Him.
- Pray for more opportunities to share the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).
- Pray for our local churches to stay true to God’s Word as beacons of Christ’s light in a dark world.
- Pray for our communities and country to be transformed through God’s Truth.
One day, our hope will be made sight, our joy will be fulfilled, and we will be with the Prince of Peace forever! May we walk by faith with our soon-coming King until that day comes.
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