Be Joyful In Confidence With Hope At Your Side.

Romans 12:12 (New Living Translation)

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Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Be joyful in confidence with hope at your side. Be patient in difficulties that arise never turn against faith keep fervent in prayer for confidence is our hope and hope presents our joy while troubled is of the evil one and to fight him is in prayer and relationship with God asking for our needs

What Does Romans 12:12 Mean? ►

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12(ESV)

Verse Thoughts

Paul composed a lengthy and weighty letter to the Roman Church that addressed every issue that is so vital to living the normal Christian life, in this post-cross era. His extensive epistle is written in such a way as to provide a wonderful understanding of all church-age doctrines and how to apply them in our lives today, so that we are enabled to live a victorious Christian life – the life that God intended for all His children.

Just as the main body of Romans is lengthy and weighty, so his final remarks are by contrast are succinct yet compelling. In a few short, crisp verses Paul sums up all that is necessary to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and in verse 12 we are encouraged to Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

To rejoice in hope is to have that unfaltering assurance in God’s Word as fact – knowing that our hope of glory is secured for us in heavenly places for the eternal ages to come, simply because God’s Word is true and cannot be broken. Our hope is built on nothing less than trusting in the cross of Christ and taking God at His Word.

To be patient in tribulation is to know and accept that in this world we will have tribulation – but to wait patiently in our suffering, without murmurings – and to be of good cheer, knowing that His strength is sufficient to see us through every difficulty of life, because He has already overcome sin and death – and we are united with Him and His victory.

To be constant in prayer is to recognise that prayer, is one of the chief weapons of the spiritual warfare in which all Christians are engaged. As saints of God we should all be instant in prayer – constantly lifting our hearts and voice to the Lord in prayers of thanks and praise and intercession and requests – and laying them before the throne of God’s Grace, in the name of JESUS – knowing that greater is He that is in us that He that is in the world.

Let us exercise all Paul’s short, crisp instructions for godly living that are found in this final section of His epistle to the Romans as well as taking time to study this lengthy and weighty letter that has been written for our learning – so that we too may live a life that is pleasing to the Lord – so that Christ can be seen in me, and also in you.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/romans-12-12

Romans 12:12 Meaning of Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction

Jan 30, 2020 by Editor in Chief

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

Explanation and Commentary of Romans 12:12

This verse from Paul comes in a section that exhorts his readers to love others well. As we seek to love and bless others, we will have to mind our dispositions. We are admonished to be joyful as we have hope. This life, even in the best of times, is not without a fair amount of affliction. What should set the Christian apart is the joy that she has, even in the face that affliction.

The power for hope, joy, patience, and faithfulness comes from the Holy Spirit and the sure knowledge of the Gospel. If you rearrange the verse you get a good order for approaching it. Pray faithfully to increase the hope that you have in Christ. Prayer will lead to patience and joy, even when being afflicted.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Romans 12:12

#1 “Be joyful…”

Joy is part of our birthright at God’s children. Those who have taken the light burden and easy yoke of Christ (Mat 11:30) will be able to feel joyful even in the most difficult of trials. Consider the child whose family is in great difficulty, but who has a kind and gentle father in the home. She will not remember the hardship of growing up, only the joy she had in the presence of her father. Christians are called to live in such a way as children of God. To cultivate faith is to cultivate joy.

#2 “…in hope,”

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” It is not good to hope in just anything. In Nazi concentration camps, it was those who hoped who failed to hold up when hopes died. If they said, “Surely we’ll be home by the new year,” they were unable to bear it when the new year came and went and they were still there in bondage. But those who hope in God and his promises will have an unlimited supply of hope and have their strength renewed.

#3 “patient in affliction,”

“In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Christians should not be surprised when they are afflicted. The New Testament authors and Jesus himself never shied away from admitting the fact. Times of affliction are the best opportunities to learn the patience that is the fruit of the Spirit and of abiding in Christ. We will be tested in the “furnace of affliction” for our refinement and conformity into the image of Christ (Isa 48:10). We are blessed if we patiently endure it.

#4 “faithful in prayer.”

God is faithful to us. His nature never changes. His promises never fail. His call to us is to walk in faithfulness towards him and to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17). Those who seek to be faithful to him who is faithful to us will live out this faithfulness in prayer. Prayer is our great calling and privilege as we are allowed to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb 4:18). If we are faithful in prayer, we will find the patience to endure, and the joy promised in Christ.

Meaning Of Romans 12:12

The New Testament contains letters to various churches with the core message of the gospel of Christ. It shows how the apostles preached the gospel and taught the disciples of Christ the right way to live 🙏🏻.

The books in the New Testament are actually letters the apostles wrote to the churches they started at the time. The book of Romans is one such letter where you find chapter 12 and verse 12 which says, 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

1) WHO WROTE ROMANS 12 ?

📜 The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans, which includes chapter 12. We know this because he starts by identifying himself at the beginning of the book. 

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.”

Romans 1:1

Paul wrote the letter to the Roman church to tell them about the essence of the gospel of Christ. He explains faith in Christ, our righteousness through Christ, and that in Christ, Jews and Gentiles are one ✝️.

Romans 12 has a passage that teaches how to behave like a Christian. This is where we find verse 12.

2) MEANING OF ROMANS 12:12 IN THE NIV BIBLE VERSION

Romans 12:12 in the NIV Bible version reads, 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

The above verse shows us how we are to respond in various situations we face in life. Our hearts should be full of joy because we have hope in Christ. When facing troubles, patience will prevent us from giving up before seeing our victory. Prayer is something we do always and in every situation knowing God will answer our prayers.

Romans 12:12 is a simple exhortation to behave in a way that shows we trust God in all situations we face in life. 

A. MEANING OF “BE JOYFUL IN HOPE”

As Christians, we are to rejoice because of the hope we have in Christ. In Him, we have hope despite our circumstances because He has promised us victory. You can find rest in God when you put your hope in Him and not anything else.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”

Psalm 62:5

This means that your heart will be full of joy knowing you have God’s peace in any situation ❤.

Titus 3:7 says we have hope of eternal life meaning we can look forward to an eternity with God because of our faith in Jesus. Because of this promise, our hearts have joy as we wait for our Savior to return.

“so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Titus 3:7

B. MEANING OF “PATIENT IN AFFLICTION”

We are to be patient in our afflictions because they don’t last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

2 Corinthians 4:17

Afflictions are for a season and when they are over, we know that the glory of God will be evident to all who see us 👍🏻.

According to Isaiah 48:10, God refines us in the furnace of affliction and this process makes us pure and equipped to live a life that pleases Him. By being patient, you allow God to transform you into a better person who reflects the true nature of Christ in the world.

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

Isaiah 48:10

C. MEANING OF “FAITHFUL IN PRAYER”

When we don’t see answers to our prayers, we fall into the temptation to stop praying. But when we stop praying, we deny God the chance to intervene in our lives 😥.

Being faithful in prayer means praying always without giving up and with all kinds of prayers and requests.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Ephesians 6:18

Praying faithfully requires a heart that keeps trusting that God answers all prayers. A person who believes he or she will see what they are praying for will more likely pray always. As Christians, we should devote ourselves to prayer where we continually seek God for guidance and help ✊🏻.

3) ROMANS 12:12 COMMENTARY AND CONCLUSION

Romans 12:12 is a simple Scripture but packed with a powerful message. By taking the time to understand its meaning, you will find a lot of wisdom for your everyday living 👼.

God uses His word to teach us how to live right and the three nuggets of wisdom in Romans 12:12 show us how to do just that 😊.

Read next: Meaning of Proverbs 4:23 to you as a Christian. The Bible is a book of wisdom that God uses to show us how to live our lives. In it, you will find the book of Proverbs which shows you the right way to deal with the various situations in your life…

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer—Romans 12:12

March 5, 2010

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

Paul’s directive to be joyful, patient and faithful in the midst of daily struggles seems like a hard pill to swallow. However, this charge comes directly on the heels of instruction to serve the Lord continually out of spiritual fervor and passion for Him. When we are walking after the Spirit and living out of our relationship to Him then these things will naturally occur in our lives because each one of these is a fruit of the spirit. These fruits are His characteristics and traits, so these characteristics in our lives are a byproduct of our relationship to Christ. As we become more and more like him we start resembling His character on a daily basis.

We are to be joyful in hope. When our hope is placed Jesus then being joyful in all things is easy because we know the hope to which we were called. I Peter says “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” ( I Peter 1:3-4 ). As born again believers, we know the hope that we have through Christ. Our future in heaven is secure in him by evidence of his resurrection. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” ( I Peter 1:8-9 ). Just knowing that one day we will be reunited with Christ is reason enough to be joyful in all things. This inexpressible and glorious joy should be evident to everyone around because of the hope we have in Christ.

Secondly we are to be patient in affliction. Being patient is a wonderful characteristic to have. It is a quality of suffering with fortitude while enduring wrongs and trials at the hands of the world. James tells us that we are to “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” ( James 1:2-4 ). The King James Bible says it this way, “the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” ( James 1:3-4 KJV ). The work of patience in our lives produces maturity and completion in our faith. This is why we can be patient in affliction, because we know the result of the trial will not destroy us but rather help us grow and mature in the Lord.

Next we are to be faithful in prayer. James tells us that “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” ( James 5:16 ). Through Christ Jesus we are completely righteous which means when we pray, it is powerful and effective. This is why Paul tells us to be faithful in prayer because we know that we are releasing God’s power on this earth when we pray.  Jesus told the disciples “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” ( Mark 11:24 ). When we pray in accordance with God’s will then we can rest assured that the answer is yes to whatever we ask. Paul gave us an encouraging word in Romans 8 concerning this and praying in agreement to God’s will, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” ( Romans 8:28 ). Since we are called to His purpose we can pray knowing that it is effective and will work out for our good.

Joy, patience and faithfulness are all fruit of the Spirit. We can operate in all of these things because they are characteristics of God and have been deposited into our born again spirits. We can let them flow through us simply by living by His spirit and renewing our minds to the truth of His word. May this word bless you and may your fruit look like His characteristics today, amen.

What does Romans 12:12 mean?

Paul continues to describe our lives in Christ in a series of related short commands. The three commands in this verse are key to the emotional and spiritual well-being of every Christian.

The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. Often, we resist instruction about what we should feel: that we should change our attitudes to be joyful. The idea here, though, is more about declaring ourselves as having reason for joy. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. What hope? Paul is referring to the hope of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Romans 8:23–24).

The next command is to be patient in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we are keeping the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being patient during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain of those experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul has pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). So, we wait with patience (Romans 8:25). The final command of the verse also connects with Paul’s thoughts in Romans chapter 8. We’re commanded to be constant in prayer, or to keep praying continually. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should pray. Prayer brings a connection with our Father through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). He hears, understands, and helps in response to even our clumsiest attempts to communicate with Him.

Context Summary

Romans 12:9–21 is a list of numerous brief, bullet-pointed commands. Taken together, they paint a picture of what the living-sacrifice Christian life should look like. The unifying theme of the list is setting ourselves aside, to effectively love and serve the Lord, each other, and even our enemies. We must serve with enthusiasm and focus, mastering our emotions to rejoice in our future and be patient in our present. We must refuse to sink to evil’s level in taking revenge and instead overcome evil by doing good to those who harm us.

Chapter Summary

In Romans 12, Paul describes the worship of our God as becoming living sacrifices to our God, giving up seeking what we want from life and learning to know and serve what God wants. That begins with using our spiritual gifts to serve each other in the church. Paul’s list of commands describes a lifestyle of setting ourselves aside. Our goal as Christians is to love and lift each other up. We must focus our expectation on eternity and wait with patience and prayer for our Father to provide. We must refuse to sink to evil’s level, giving good to those who harm us instead of revenge