2 Kings 4:28 “Did I ask you for a son my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”(NIV)

Happy New Year, God’s Favored. 2010 is promising to be a year of recovery, restoration, renewal & revival. As we rejoiced with Southwestern North Carolina District at the watch night services God confirmed His presence with the salvation of one young man. We thank God for our new presiding Elder to lead this great district and the new pastors and their families with whom we have been delighted and inspired to commune.

This retort from the Shunammite woman to the prophet Elisha mimics the heartfelt recoil many of us have to feelings of excitement, prophecy of plenty & revelations of outpour, “Didn’t I tell you “Don’t raise my hopes’?” Rather than expecting and planning for greater we’d prefer the security and comfort of the prescribed mundane status quo. God has placed visions of glory in your spirit, given dreams of abundance and plans to prosper but we step back and say “whoa…how can this be possible?” We are afraid that the reality won’t measure up to the vision, the existence won’t live up to the hype or the possession won’t equal the prophesied. Allow me to encourage you from the word; Romans 9:33 “the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”

My hopes in Christ, for Christ, through Christ will never fail to match His promised word or my needed experience. Would our loving father chide us to ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding” if He wasn’t willing and capable of meeting every dream, every goal, and every plan without putting me to shame? He won’t disappoint you, but don’t you disappoint Him by moving too soon or giving up prematurely on His word. Say with Paul & me “now unto Him that is able!” He won’t fail me and I will hope in him and work without fear of failure! My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. My hopes may grow and I will not fear. DON’T TOUCH THAT BRAKE.