Saturday, March 20, 2010

Stronghold

Alert! Christ-follower post ahead :-) I was rivetted by this verse this morning: "Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope." * I have always seen the word 'stronghold' as a negative - as a sort of straitjacket of harmful habitual behaviours or thought patterns imprisoning people. You know - that thing you hate about yourself; that you try to change and can't. That prison. But when I looked at this verse, I saw a stronghold can mean a fortress; a place of safety. And here, this stronghold is hope. As Christ-followers we are condemned to hope (eager expectation) and our proper home is in that stronghold of hope in Christ. But we can forget. We can be overwhelmed by stresses; by worries; by fears And mentally and spiritually depart from our place, gained for us at such great cost, and become depressed and downcast, imagining the worst about life. Losing heart. This verse is a clarion call to remember. To wake up.
To return to the stronghold of hope.
We, of all people, have reason to be eagerly expectant, to feel life is worthwhile and precious. * Zech 9:12

2 comments:

Lynette Jacobs said...

Now you are truly back, my dear friend.

Sometimes you have to go through deep waters before you realise that He is our only hope. I am so thankful that He can be my "stronghold of hope". In the past weeks I have stayed my mind on Him and I can truly say that He has given me a peace that in the natural would not have been possible.

Thank you for a wonderful post.

xx

Terry said...

There is no better stronghold than putting our faith in Jesus. When a little child is afraid they'll run to their parent for protection. We should be doing the same when sin tempts us. We could have no better protection than Jesus.

John;10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

What a wonderful promise to run to for our stronghold.
Great Post Allie!! :)