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As we celebrate Advent, we are reminded that we have a Savior who was willing to enter into our world and who came to our rescue. We want to live in light of His first coming and wait in hopeful expectation that He is coming again.

Each Sunday we’ll be focusing on one of the four words traditionally associated with the Advent candle for that week:

  • Hope
  • Peace
  • Joy
  • Love

Jesus is the Word made flesh who made His dwelling among us. As we focus on each of these words, we want to ask God to reveal that aspect of who He is, form those things in us, and help us to live them out.

We’ll be sending out and posting something to help us engage in these ways:

  • MONDAY: Revelation– how is Jesus revealing the God of Hope to you?
  • WEDNESDAY: Formation– how is His Hope being formed in you?
  • FRIDAY: Incarnation – how is Hope being expressed through you?

 

This week we are focusing on HOPE: 

MONDAY: REVELATION- how is Jesus revealing the God of Hope to you?

Read:

  • Lamentations 3:21-24: But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in the Lord.”
  • 1 Peter 1:3- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Reflect:

  • From the Readings above:
    • Why does the author of Lamentations have hope?
    • Why does Peter have hope?
    • What is God revealing to you about hope today?

Watch:

Pray:

  • God, I confess I have often put my hope in things other than you. Please forgive me. Reveal your steadfast love to me and help me trust fully in you. Thank you that even during difficulties I can hope in you, knowing that you are working all things together for good.

 

WEDNESDAY: FORMATION- how is His Hope being formed in you?

Reflect:

  • God’s desire is that we become more and more like Jesus. Romans 12:2 says: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  • We want to take time and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where our beliefs and actions need to be transformed more into His likeness.
  • Biblical hope is a confident expectation of a better future based on God’s character and promises. How is this different from how the world defines hope?
  • How is putting your hope in God different from hoping for something to happen?
  • Ask God how he wants to transform your thoughts and actions around hope.
  • Is there something you need to surrender to Him in order for Him to do that?

Pray:

  • God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

 

FRIDAY: INCARNATION – how is His Hope being expressed through you?

  • Ask the Holy Spirit to bring someone to mind who needs to know God’s hope.
  • Take time to pray for them.
  • Is there something God is leading you to do for this person as an expression of His hope?