Maneuvers - No. 64
Receive
Hope Now
With so much darkness in the world around us, we need hope, friend.
Because if we’re not regularly receiving hope, the discouragement, trials, and disappointments we face will only push us further away from the joy and beauty God has in store for us.
And when that happens, the future becomes something we dread instead of something we look forward to.
Thankfully, though, Jesus knows what we need, and he isn’t stingy. He’s generous (more than we could ever know). And he’s not content with giving us just enough hope–no, he wants to give us overflowing hope through Holy Spirit’s power (see Romans 15:13).
If you had overflowing hope, how would that change how you see the world?
How would it impact what you feel about the future?
How would it affect your prayers, your daily work, and your relationships with God and other people?
How would it transform how you view yourself?
Take a moment to think about that, and then let’s ask ourselves…
Do I truly want that kind of hope to overflow in me? Am I willing to let go of the fear of the unknown, my distrust of good things, and my desperate desire to control in order to receive it?
Friend, we pray the answer for each of us today is yes.
And if that’s your answer, too, then come and join us as we receive Holy Spirit’s generous gift of hope…
01.
The Message
“Hope now. See. Know you are held–and so loved, right here, right now. In all moments. Before you were born. And beyond man’s recording of time. What do you want, more than anything else? How much do you desire to have more hope? How much hope do you have in all things being made right? How often do you abandon anxiety, release the unknown, and let yourself be gathered up by me?
“I protect you. I shield you with my love. It encompasses you completely. It shelters you. Do you feel it now? Will you let yourself be sheltered by love? For within the shelter I provide, you are filled with my love for you. And my love for you brings hope–the deep knowing, without question, of your well-being. It is rooted in what is timeless and good. For my love does not wane. This is why hope is a weapon for everything you face. It pierces doubt. It slays evil. It protects you from dismay, fear and lies that, more than anything, want to tear you away from me.
“Do not be torn from what is true. With hope–the hope I give you–you can never be torn from me.
“Settle deep now into the constancy of my love for you. Be fueled–your mind, your body, your ideas, your expectations, your emotions, your dreams–by something solid and lasting. Be fueled by hope. It is not only coming–something to have faith in, to cling to in the future. It is also here now. Hope is here now. Hope is here. Hope is here. Hope is here.
“Be timeless with me. Be one with me. Be filled with questions and okay with not always having every answer. But pursue wisdom–and expect it–know it will be granted when you ask. Hope for me. Hope for truth. Hope for kindness. Hope for beauty. Hope for love. Love and receive hope. Hope and receive love. I am for you. I am in you. I cover you. Receive, receive, receive hope my child, now.”
02.
Listen
God is so eager to meet us in our place of brokenness. He loves to restore our hope and renew our faith. How do you want to see him do this in your life? Let’s write out a prayer, in response, to the Lord.
03.
Think
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NIV).
1. Where have you been struggling to dream and believe for good things lately? What situations or relationships seem hopeless right now?
2. What questions have you been asking God (or have been wanting to ask) that haven’t been answered yet? In what ways is it hard for you to trust him when you don’t have those answers?
3. What words from today’s message did you most need to hear today? What did they reveal about God’s heart for you?
04.
Trust
When hope seems far away, it’s natural for a part of us to feel like we simply want to hide. To sit alone with that empty ache in the pit of our stomach. To accept the dark and cold we feel as simply a part of life now.
But we don’t have to sit alone. Jesus longs to come and sit with us… walk with us… share our ache… and then give us a fresh perspective of his unwavering love and the good things yet to come.
Can we invite Jesus to sit with us right now? And can we open our hearts to let in his light and warmth?
To start, let’s look up 3 Scripture passages about hope and write them down. If you don’t have a Bible nearby, feel free to use the following Scriptures:
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5, NIV).
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25, NIV).
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Ephesians 1:18, NIV).
How do these passages apply to specific situations in our lives? Let’s write down our answers.
Now, let’s re-read each passage, slowly, focusing on each word and what it means… When we’re done, let’s ask Holy Spirit, “Where have I been struggling to believe these truths? How have I allowed hopelessness to steal my joy in you? Where do you want to bring new hope, joy, and peace into my heart?”
Let’s pause here and give the Lord time to respond to us… What is Holy Spirit saying to us personally through these verses? What is he showing us right now? Let’s write it down.
And now, let’s close in prayer…
05.
Pray
Father, give me faith to trust your goodness, even in the dark, when I feel hopeless and alone. I give you my doubt. I give you my discontent. I give you my anger and my hurt.
Right now, I receive hope from you. I receive love from you and joy and contentment. I receive faith to believe for what I can’t see.
Thank you for the hunger you give me for more of your presence. And thank you for being so close to me. You are all I need and more. I love you so much.
In Jesus’ name, amen
Waving the banner with you,
