The Igniting Hope Blog

Is Hope Greater Than Character? By Steve Backlund Romans 5:3–4 gives us powerful insight into how we mature in the Lord. Paul describes what could almost be called a four-step process: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Each one leads to the next, and what fascinates me is where the process ends. I would have expected character to be the final destination. A

The Word the Devil Left Out By Steve Backlund One of the greatest truths (if not the greatest truth) we can ever renew our minds with is this: I am unconditionally loved by God. The more deeply this truth becomes established in us; the more it changes how we interpret God, ourselves, other people, our circumstances, and our future. Romans 5:5 says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Fig Trees and Dry Bones Don’t Have Ears By Steve Backlund Fig trees don’t have ears. Neither do dry bones. Dead people don’t hear very well either. Yet Scripture contains fascinating examples of words being spoken to things that seemingly could not hear. In Mark 11:12–14, Jesus spoke directly to a fig tree that had no fruit: “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” The next day, the disciples discovered the tree had withered. In Ezekiel 37, God brought Ezekiel into a valle

5 Signs We Are Striving, Not Trusting By Steve Backlund Striving can be difficult to recognize because it often looks like responsibility. We are praying, planning, working hard, trying to make good decisions, completing goals, and doing everything we know to do. Yet underneath all that activity can be an internal pressure that says, “I have to make this happen.” This is the root belief of striving. Working hard and striving are not the same thing. We can work incredibly ha

It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense Yet By Steve Backlund I love wisdom, good planning, getting counsel, and thinking things through. God is never foolish or irrational, but I have discovered something about walking with Him: His wisdom frequently goes beyond what makes sense to our natural minds. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” It doesn't say we shouldn't have understanding. It says we shouldn't lean on it. If eve

How Hope-Filled Does God Want Us? By Steve Backlund “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Don’t get your hopes up.” We have probably all heard that phrase. It usually comes from someone (frequently ourselves) trying to protect us from disappointment. “Don’t expect too much. Keep your expectations realistic.” For some of us, hope actually feels risky. We have hoped

What's God Doing Right Now? By Steve Backlund One of my favorite biblical descriptions of wise people is found in 1 Chronicles 12:32: "The sons of Issachar... had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." I love that verse because it reveals something God is empowering us to do today. He is raising up believers who don't merely understand biblical truth, but they also understand the season they are living in. They recognize His activity, discern His timing

Higher Levels, Higher Devils? By Steve Backlund Years ago, I remember saying, "Every time I move forward in God, I get attacked by the devil." I wasn't trying to create a doctrine; I was simply describing what I believed was my experience. It seemed obvious that greater spiritual advancement meant greater spiritual attack. One day I felt the Lord interrupt my thinking. "Steve, why do you keep saying that every time you move forward in Me, you get attacked by the devil?" I ans

Believe and Manage By Steve Backlund One of the greatest areas where we are tempted to be frustrated in our Christian life is believing for something that hasn't happened yet. We have all experienced it. We are believing God for healing, but our bodies are still hurting. We are believing for a stronger marriage, but challenges remain. We are believing for financial breakthrough, yet we're still battling debt. We believe for emotional freedom while continuing to renew our mind

It Is Already Happening (Part 2) By Steve Backlund Looking for Gold, Not Dirt Wendy and I were senior leaders in Central Nevada in the 1990s. We lived in a town that had a massive open-pit gold mine. Hundreds of tons of dirt were moved every day, but the workers were not fixated on dirt. Their focus was the gold hidden within it. As we observed this, we realized it was a powerful picture for leadership and relationships. We made a decision that we would become gold finders, n

It Is Already Happening (Part 1) By Steve Backlund What if God is already doing far more than we realize? In John 4:35, Jesus confronted a mindset that still affects many believers today: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” The disciples were saying, “It’s not happening yet.” Jesus was saying, “It already is happening. You just are no

Declarations: The Science Behind It By Steve Backlund Declarations are one of the most practical ways we renew our minds and experience transformation (Romans 12:2). It is speaking life (Proverbs 18:21) and “calling those things that do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17). I have written books about it, taught it extensively, and experienced the benefits of it. What we believe greatly impacts what we feel and will experience. And what we say is a main contributor to

Fasting More or Feasting More? By Steve Backlund Fasting is biblical and important. Jesus fasted, and the early church fasted. Fasting helps us detach from unhealthy appetites and increase focus on the Lord. However, I believe many people lack victory not because they fast too little, but because they are not feasting enough. Too often we are: underfed on hope, underfed on testimonies, underfed on identity, underfed on the goodness of God, underfed on worship, underfed on Scr

Testimonies — The 4th Source of Healthy & Fruitful Mind Renewal By Steve Backlund One of the great secrets to healthy and fruitful mind renewal is learning how to feed on testimonies. Most believers understand the importance of renewing the mind, but many underestimate the power of testimonies in that process. Testimonies are not just encouraging stories, spiritual entertainment, or simply reports of what God once did. Testimonies are one of God’s key tools for helping us th

The Art of a Faster Comeback By Steve Backlund I don’t live in constant emotional euphoria. My goal is this to make my low places higher and not stay there as long. I want to bounce back quicker than I used to. It is called resilience. Resilience is the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover quickly from adversity, trauma, or significant change. People of hope bounce back faster, not because they avoid difficulty, but because they interpret and respond to life different

Increasing the Likelihood By Steve Backlund “This is going to be the best day of my life yet!” I frequently say that after I wake up. It does not guarantee it to happen, but the moment I say it, the likelihood of it happening increases. It is a great belief. I do focus much on beliefs—and rightly so—because what we believe is ultimately more important than what we do, but today if we truly believe, our beliefs will propel us into action. Hope-filled people do not just believ

Lies Smart People Believe By Steve Backlund Breakthrough is rarely blocked by obvious rebellion. It’s usually limited by reasonable conclusions. The most dangerous lies don’t feel evil — they feel intelligent. They show up as thoughts like: “I’m just being realistic.” “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” “I don’t want to be disappointed again.” “That’s just how I am.” “I’m just being humble.” None of those sound rebellious. They sound mature. A logical lie is a conclusion that

I Am So Glad I Needed to Persevere By Steve Backlund This is a continuation of my last blog, “I Am So Glad It Was Hard”. One of the most freeing truths I’ve learned is this: What we overcome (what we persevere in) becomes an area we carry spiritual authority and increased influence in to bring breakthrough and freedom to others. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the

I Did Not Expect That to Happen By Steve Backlund There are moments in life (both personally and in society) when we find ourselves saying, “I did not expect that to happen.” It could be a diagnosis that comes out of nowhere, a relationship shifts suddenly, a leader falls, a war breaks out, an election that surprises us, or an economy shakes. Unexpected events have a way of exposing what we truly believe about God, ourselves, and the future. The unexpected is not a sign that

Navigating Church Controversies with Hope & Strong Beliefs By Steve Backlund When controversy arises in the Body of Christ, it reveals more about how we believe than what we believe. Conversations around public leaders and ministries (like those recently involving Shawn Bolz and Bethel Church) can quickly become emotionally charged. Here are four ways I have learned that have helped me navigate moments like these with hope-filled thinking and strong, healthy beliefs. My goal