Be a Prisoner of Hope

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.”

—EMILY DICKENSON

Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.

—Zechariah 9:12

The Bible mentions prisoners of hope (see Zechariah 9:12). What is that? I believe it is someone who absolutely refuses to stop hoping no matter how desperate his circumstances are. Prisoners of hope are swept up and locked in to hope; they just can’t get away from it. They must hope in God and believe something good is going to happen.

I think Abraham must have been a prisoner of hope. The Bible tells us he had no human reason to hope, yet he hoped, in faith, that the promise of God would manifest in his life. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and it causes depression, discouragement, and despair. When you have hope, you intentionally become positive in your thoughts and attitudes. Hope also talks positively. Hope believes all things are possible with God and it expects good news at any moment. Hope says, “Something good is going to happen to me today.”

A positive attitude makes life simpler. It relieves pressure and puts a smile on your face. It is the attitude God wants us to have so He can work His will in our life. If we are going to walk with God, we must agree with Him. After all, He knows the thoughts and plans He has for us, thoughts of welfare and peace, to give us hope in our final outcome (see Jeremiah 29:11).