If you are feeling discouraged, filled with despair, if you have lost hope that nothing will go right again in your life, if the future looks bleak then meditate on these words in Zechariah 9:8 where God says:

“I will surround my Temple like a guard to keep invading armies from entering Israel. (LAB) Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch” (NIV)

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

God says He is surrounding you and guarding you.  He is right beside you, protecting, watching and helping. He is standing guard to stop the armies of depression, sickness, failure, addiction from invading and destroying the life He has ordained for you.

He goes even further and says:

“Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” (Zechariah 9:12)

C.H. Spurgeon puts it so succinctly:

Those who were prisoners in the pit wherein is no water were prisoners without hope, yet God has set them free. But sometimes they get into prison, again—they ought not to do so, but they do. Even after Giant Despair is slain, the pilgrims’ troubles are not all over and, sometimes, saved men and women get into a despondent state. Then comes this gracious invitation, “Turn you to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.” Do you catch the thought that is intended to be conveyed by these words? You have been taken out of the pit and there, close beside you, is the Castle of Refuge. So, the moment you are drawn up out of the pit, run to the castle for shelter.

You are a prisoner of hope and it is God, who if you allow Him too, will fill you with that hope.

“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)

Hope is not mere expectation and desire, but trust and confidence that things will go well in the future.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12)

God also promises that He will restore ‘twice as much’ – if you turn to Him, if you declare your hope in His promises, He will restore to you a double portion of peace, joy, relationships, health and love. He will restore the ‘years the locusts have eaten’.

Declare that you are a ‘prisoner of hope’ and know that He is true to His promises.