Day four

What emotions or thoughts does the word hope evoke within you? Do you settle into a place of peace, joy, or expectancy? Or does the idea of hope bring up feelings of anger? Of disappointment? Of bitterness?

The concept of hope can stir up intense emotions within us or even the opposite reaction of ambivalence, responding with an “I don’t care, it doesn’t matter to me...whatever.” At some point in time in our lives however, even those lives less impacted by trauma or crisis, we have all experienced disappointment of some type. How did we respond to these disappointments? And what do we do with hope now?

As we prepare for Christmas and celebrate the hope of a Messiah finally realized in Jesus, take time to tell the Father what you honestly feel when you hear the word hope. Christmas is a season of hope. What does your heart believe concerning hope? It’s okay to share with Him the truth about the condition of your heart, about how you are actually feeling. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you.

But don’t stop there!

Preparing our hearts for Christmas involves letting our Father God into our hearts, and hearing His loving words speak to our innermost being, doing the transformative work we cannot do ourselves. So, take some time in a quiet place and share with your heavenly Father your honest thoughts and feelings about hope. Dig into the Bible looking up verse on hope, some are listed below. Then hear what your Heavenly Father would say to you about hope, from His heart to yours, as He meets you where you are at. This is a place where He offers safety and respect for the value of your heart.

The Father’s character is always something we can hope in and look forward to meet with.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Father thank you for being a safe place for me to share my feelings and heart with You and always meeting me with love. I chose to renew my mind with Your word and the truth of what You say hope is. Help me to hear Your loving voice as I share with you.