Everyday Hope
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT
Advent is one of my favorite times of the year in the Church! For Christians, this time is more than presents and decorations. It's this beautiful season where we wait, anticipate, and prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth.
Advent candles are also a special part of the season. Traditionally, there are four candles (sometimes five), each with its own significance. As the weeks of Advent pass, these candles are lit one by one.
This past week, we lit the first candle, often called the "Prophet's Candle" or the "Candle of Hope," representing the anticipation and hopefulness of the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
JOURNAL: When thinking about hope, what does that mean to you?
Hope, to me, is one of the most compelling things about our faith in Jesus. It's what makes Christianity stand out among all other worldviews and religions. Other beliefs might have teachings, philosophies, or rituals, but what sets us apart is that our hope isn’t in rules or abstract ideas. Our hope is a living, breathing, compassionate Savior who walked among us, laughed with us, cried with us, and ultimately sacrificed for us.
Because the promise of the hope of Jesus was fulfilled in His birth, we can have confident hope in His second coming and in the trials and difficulties we face until that day. Looking back on my life thus far, especially the dark moments of pain and disappointment, I can clearly see His hand at work. Even in the times where it felt like He had abandoned me, I can see the bigger picture now and trace a through line of His goodness in my life. This gives me hope for the future as new trials and uncertainty arise. My hope is confident and secure because of the testimony of the past.
ACTIVATION: Think through a situation or season in your life that strengthened your hope and faith in Jesus on the other side
That kind of hope - tried, tested, and true - is my lifeline. So, as we light the Advent candles and sing the carols and songs, let's not forget the incredible gift we have in Jesus. He's not just the reason for the season; He's the reason for our hope, our joy, our everything. And that hope, it's not just for Christmas; it's an everyday, life-changing, eternity-shaping kind of deal.
PRAYER: Thank God for the gift of Jesus. Praise Him for what the promise of hope really means to you personally, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart to Him this Advent season.
Advent is one of my favorite times of the year in the Church! For Christians, this time is more than presents and decorations. It's this beautiful season where we wait, anticipate, and prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth.
Advent candles are also a special part of the season. Traditionally, there are four candles (sometimes five), each with its own significance. As the weeks of Advent pass, these candles are lit one by one.
This past week, we lit the first candle, often called the "Prophet's Candle" or the "Candle of Hope," representing the anticipation and hopefulness of the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
JOURNAL: When thinking about hope, what does that mean to you?
Hope, to me, is one of the most compelling things about our faith in Jesus. It's what makes Christianity stand out among all other worldviews and religions. Other beliefs might have teachings, philosophies, or rituals, but what sets us apart is that our hope isn’t in rules or abstract ideas. Our hope is a living, breathing, compassionate Savior who walked among us, laughed with us, cried with us, and ultimately sacrificed for us.
Because the promise of the hope of Jesus was fulfilled in His birth, we can have confident hope in His second coming and in the trials and difficulties we face until that day. Looking back on my life thus far, especially the dark moments of pain and disappointment, I can clearly see His hand at work. Even in the times where it felt like He had abandoned me, I can see the bigger picture now and trace a through line of His goodness in my life. This gives me hope for the future as new trials and uncertainty arise. My hope is confident and secure because of the testimony of the past.
ACTIVATION: Think through a situation or season in your life that strengthened your hope and faith in Jesus on the other side
That kind of hope - tried, tested, and true - is my lifeline. So, as we light the Advent candles and sing the carols and songs, let's not forget the incredible gift we have in Jesus. He's not just the reason for the season; He's the reason for our hope, our joy, our everything. And that hope, it's not just for Christmas; it's an everyday, life-changing, eternity-shaping kind of deal.
PRAYER: Thank God for the gift of Jesus. Praise Him for what the promise of hope really means to you personally, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart to Him this Advent season.
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