There is a lot more to communication than words…at least that is what we often tell people in counseling. It is true that tone of voice and “body language” often makes the words we say seem less genuine. It’s tough sometimes to have all the parts of our being working in the same direction! However, the words matter. One of the things that the enemy has done over the years to create confusion in people’s minds is simple changes to definitions. These subtle changes to the meanings of words can erode our joy and confidence in profound ways. For example, this Sunday we’re discussing the matter of “hope.” The Hebrew and Greek definition of that word/concept includes anticipation based on solid confidence. The hope the Bible authors wrote about was based on the Person of God…His character. Because God cannot lie, because He is good and does all things well, we can trust His promises. Therefore we have hope, we have confidence that what He said will come to pass. In our modern use of the word hoping is more like wishing. We “hope we will stay healthy.” We “hope we’ll get the present we want.” We “hope to have safe travel.” When those two words get mixed up our hope for forgiveness, transformation, glory and heaven becomes wishful thinking rather than confident expectation. We really need to remember that “hoping the weather man is right” and having hope in God’s promises are two different matters. The weather man only reports the weather, he never controls the wind or the storehouse of snow. God, on the other hand, has made certain promises and on these promises we build our hope. So, are you merely hoping or do you have hope?