Practicing Hope | Week Three
We all want to expect better ahead. Depending on our current circumstance and the world around us, that may be hard, or we may be tempted to put our hope in shaky things. But God, in Jesus, has guaranteed good ahead no matter the state of the world or our place in it. We can have a confident expectation because of the God who promised, the Spirit within us, Jesus who leads us, and the community that surrounds us. So we take a new grip daily by Practicing Hope.
Use this guide to dive into what scripture has to say about the hope we have, no matter what the world looks like around us. This study can be done alone, but growing closer to Jesus is always better with others. Find a group of people to walk through this study with and see what you discover about hope and each other along the way.
Arrival:
What were the high and low points of your week?
When was a moment you experienced or witnessed “hope” this last week?
What is one thing God invited you to do to be obedient to Him this last week?
How did the practice of rehearsing Psalm 131 go last week? Share your experience!
Scripture:
Begin by reading Psalm 121. Read it in two different translations.
Take time on your own to rewrite the Psalm in your own words. Then speak out your rewritten Psalms to the group as a prayer.
What does this Psalm say about God?
What does this Psalm say about people?
How does this Psalm help you to practice hope?
Practice:
We can practice hope by reflecting meaningfully on our days and inviting God into our every moment. Each evening, spend 10 minutes reflecting on your day. When did you honor God? When did you choose your own way instead of God’s way?
Confess those things and ask for His forgiveness. Thank God for his faithfulness despite our struggles to always live His way.