Wednesday August 2, 2023

Today is Wednesday, August 2 and we are studying what the Bible says about hope.

I quiet my busy mind and center myself on the presence of the God who loves me. As I slow my breathing, I inhale God’s goodness and peace and exhale negative thoughts, worries or concerns.

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving God, you are Lord of my life and King of my day. In all things, I place my hope in you. Walk with me on this pilgrim journey, remind me of your presence, strengthen my steps and encourage my heart. Amen.

In all life’s circumstances I wait on the Lord and hope in his goodness. In the morning I praise him with the words of Psalm 33.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

Pause and Pray

God has been faithful in the past and I can count on God to be faithful in the future. As a child of God, I have the perspective of looking back on my life and seeing how God was at work, even in the most difficult times. The Old Testament book of Lamentations is from a small psalter of communal laments over the city of Jerusalem following its complete and utter destruction by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.. Despite the horrible situation the people have hope because of God’s faithfulness.

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:19-26

God is a God of compassion, mercy and steadfast love. The words of Lamentations enfold Israel in their sorrow and they enfold me. Every day is a new opportunity to experience a fresh outpouring of God’s love and grace. God is consistent and faithful and I can depend on him. This understanding of God results in a people who have hope. Even when distressed, disappointed, oppressed or sorrowful – I find HOPE. A hope that is clearly rooted in Almighty God.

Ask: What places in my life do I lack hope? How does God’s faithfulness in my past remind me to anticipate his faithfulness in my future?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, thank you for loving me. I grieve my past wanderings and sinfulness, I am sad as I recall past suffering and loss. Yet I know your great love has never failed me. Your compassion and kindness never run out and await me new every day. Great is your faithfulness! My hope is in you, Lord. You are the one I seek. Today, I wait quietly for you. I read the words from Lamentations again and listen for the message you have for me.

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:19-26

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Today’s scripture encourages me to analyze my life with God – past, present and future. I wait on God with hope for my future, because I remember his faithfulness in the past. I pay attention to how God is speaking to me through the words of this ancient text. Perhaps I am to seek an increase in hope, patience, or faith. Maybe God wants me to wait on something, to trust him and seek him first. Perhaps God wants to remind me of his faithfulness and frame my current struggle in light of my past experience. God wants me to know his steadfast love for me is greater than any problems this world brings.

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, and shine your spotlight on the recesses of my soul. Remind me of God’s past faithfulness and increase the fruit of hope in me confident in God’s future faithfulness. Teach me what it means to wait on God trusting in his goodness in every circumstance. Amen.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

I leave this time of prayer watching and waiting for God my Savior. I go to love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen