“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12 KJV).
How do you rejoice in hope? You dance in hope. You praise God in hope. You shout unto God in triumph in hope. You give God thanks in hope. Don’t just sit there crying about your situation, rejoice in hope of the manifestation of the power of God.
How would you act if you had what you desired right now? You would probably dance all over the place. That’s how you should act in the midst of trials. Rejoice in confident expectation, seeing the vision, seeing the victory.
The only way you can be patient in the midst of problems is by rejoicing in hope. If you don’t rejoice it will wear you down. For example, consider a champion boxer – one who is a great finisher.
When he has been boxing his opponent for so many rounds and the opponent is groggy, he lays a punch on him and knocks him almost out, but not down. The good finisher then wants to get on the guy and smother him while he’s senseless before he regains his senses. So he finishes him off. Many fights have been lost by letting the opponent off the ropes, because he (the opponent) gained a second wind and knocks him out.
Satan is like a knockout artist. He tries to be a good finisher; so if he’s able to hit you and cause you to stagger, then he can leap on you and try to finish you off. That’s his strategy. But he can’t win when you are rejoicing in hope.
It’s time to get the word and maintain your victory. When you praise God in the midst of a situation, you knock Satan out. I didn’t say it is easy to do. It is not an easy thing to do. But if God told you to do it that means you have the ability to do it. You can stand up in the middle of the temptation, test or trial and praise God for His deliverance.
You can do it because God gave you the greater one on the inside of you. And greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. You are an overcomer. You are more than a conqueror when you rejoice in hope of the manifestation of the power of God in your life.
Scripture References: Hebrews 4:12-16; Romans 8:35-39
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).