What is something you’re hoping for right now? What is something you’ve been hoping for so long, you’ve pretty much given up hope?
In your life, or just in today’s world, what is something that causes a feeling of hopelessness to form in you?
Read
Psalm 62:5-6,
Isaiah 40:31, and
Romans 8:26-27. How do these three verses confirm that hope is part of God’s essence; how do they show He is hope? How is the hope we have in Jesus different from the hope we have in anything in this world?
As believers, we often struggle with what is filling us up on a daily basis. What are some things “filling you up” right now? Have those things overflowed into your everyday life? How?
Read
Romans 15:4-5. What are some of the best ways you have found to continuously fill yourself with His hope and encouragement? According to verse 5, when you are filled and overflowing what happens? Do you have an example of this in your own life?
The other way that God shows us He is the living Hope is by His faithfulness in our own lives. If you were to do an audit of God’s faithfulness in your life, what things would top the list? Are there things day by day that should be included in a full audit?
Read
Psalm 36:5,
Lamentations 3:22-23, and
2 Timothy 2:13. What comfort can we find in these verses concerning God’s faithfulness?
We recently finished a series called “Anchor.” The key verses were
Hebrews 6:18-19. Reread those verses and compare them to
Romans 15:13. What can we learn about God, ourselves, and what we should be doing going forward?
Take some time and do a deep dive audit on how God has been faithful to you throughout your life. Write those ways down in a journal.
Find a single verse, not already read or discussed, on either God’s hope or faithfulness. Read the verse. Read it again and ask God to show what you need. Now completely unpack that verse word by word. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Lord, thank You for all the ways You have been faithful to me throughout my life. Even when I have struggled and failed to be faithful, You have always remained faithful to me. Help me to never forget how You have constantly been present in my life, and please continue to help me be as faithful to You as You are to me. Give me the strength and fortitude I need to spend time in your word daily so that it is filling me with Your hope and encouragement that I can spill over into others. Let me be your instrument that pours Your love and joy into those around me. Go with me now into this upcoming week and holiday and help me to keep my eyes on You so as not to be filled with anything else. Amen.