Several years ago, my husband and I renewed our wedding vows for our 25th Anniversary. We chose a spectacular botanic garden setting that we love, nestled high up in hills, surrounded by native bush, natural streams and 59 hectares of developed gardens, which feature a diverse range of exotic and native species.
Araluen botanic gardens are internationally recognised for their Camellias and roses, and in springtime, it is especially amazing to visit with up to 125,0000 various coloured tulips in bloom.
The man behind the building of the gardens was John Joseph Simons, who formed the Young Australian League. He helped organise the purchase of land in 1929 to provide a place dedicated to young people to adventure and experience the outdoors. Camping, swimming, bushwalking, and band performances all had their role within the park.
John Simons had a vision of what he desired to come to pass. It was a picture on the inside of him that he'd meditated and talked about with others repeatedly.
He had hope and vision, and it was a grand one which came to pass. Even after his death, when the gardens fell into disrepair, his vision for the property was remembered, and the gardens were restored and developed into the amazing place it is today.
Why? Because of hope. One man had a vision, an image bigger than himself, that caused him to hope and believe! Larger than his lifespan, this hope and desire to create something lasting and beautiful still blesses and benefits thousands of people all year round today.
God wants us all to have hope and an image of what is possible. He has a plan for each one of us individually and wants us to see, dream and imagine for amazing things for our lives.
According to the Bible, hope is looking at something you can’t see and believing it will be yours.
The Bible says, “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25)
However, having hope and the image God wants us to have for our life usually isn’t something that happens overnight; it can take time and stretching us out of our mindsets and comfort zones.
That’s because we can have a skewed self-image, and when our inner image is faulty, our outer image will match it in all we say and do. We can fail to expect much out of life and even find it difficult to feel loved by God or anyone else fully.
But that’s not God’s plan for our lives, and that’s where going to His Word helps, as His words start to shape the image and picture we have on the inside and to bring transformational change and growth.
The more we meditate and think about what God says about us, the more we will set a inner image filled with hope and love, which is what activates our faith to believe for amazing things. (Romans 12:2)
Today, if the inner image of your life, your relationships, career, and future isn’t great and you feel hopeless, I encourage you to turn to Jesus and seek Him for the dream He has for your life.
He is the great restorer and comforter who will help you in your time of need, release fresh hope and vision and give you the best plan move forward. (Hebrews 4:16)
Look to Jesus, let yourself dream for better days ahead and be determined to hold onto hope as you walk it out. (Ephesians 3:20 AMP)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
“I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love.” (Ephesians 3:17-18)
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.” ~ Martin Luther King
Prayer: Lord, please help me to see my life and my future as you have it planned. Renew my inner person and cause hope to rise in my heart today in Jesus Name Amen.
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