“Hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:5).
You have always known that God was going to answer your prayers. When you were unmarried, you knew that one day the Lord would bless you with a spouse and children. When your family members were still unsaved, you knew that someday they would all come to know the Lord.
When your church was in need of revival, you knew that if you prayed with faith and patience, sooner or later that revival would break forth. You even knew that you would eventually get that much needed and deserved promotion and raise at work.
You waited patiently to see these things (and other prayer requests) come to pass, because you had hope as an anchor for your soul (Heb. 6:19).
Hope is a good ingredient to have in our Christian character because it motivates us to keep going. When my wife and I accidentally drove our car off a hill and landed at the bottom of a ravine, it was the walk back up the side of that hill that told me how strong hope really is.
I kept telling my wife while we were climbing, “Cars are only metal, glass, and rubber. We can always get another car, or even do without one if we have to. But there is one thing we have that no one can take from us, and that is our hope and desire to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Hope keeps spiritual desire alive. It motivates us every day to get up and give life another try. It keeps us going when circumstances are screaming at us: “Give up! You’ll never make it, why try any longer?”
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.