Day 4

Outward Church

Day 4

God’s past faithfulness motivates hope for the future. We can look forward with hope by looking backward to remember how trustworthy God has been. If he was faithful then, why would he not be faithful again?

READ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

REFLECT
-Remember three specific ways God has shown his love to you and your community in the past.
-How do your memories of God’s faithful love provide hope for you today?
-Turn these reflections into a conversation with God. Share what his faithful love has meant to you and how you want to see him be faithful again today.

Day 1 - HOPE video intro

In the Bible people who have hope are very different from optimists! In this video, we’ll explore how biblical hope looks to God’s character alone as a basis for trusting that the future will be better than the present. READ 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Day 2

Biblical hope relies on God’s character as a basis for trusting that the future will be better than the present. The more a person gets to know God’s character, the more hope they can have. READ 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130:1-8 REFLECT -What does the psalmist say about God’s character? -What do you say about God’s character? -What does the psalmist believe God will do for Israel? -What do you believe God will do for you and your community? -How do you want to see God’s forgiving love at work in your life and your community this week? Form your answer into a prayer to him now. He’s listening.

Day 3

Optimism chooses to see how circumstances could work out for the best. Biblical hope, however, is not based on circumstances. In fact, hopeful people in the Bible often face difficult times with no evidence that things will get better, but they choose hope anyway. For example, Israel’s prophet Micah lived in the midst of injustice and evil but looked to God for hope. READ 6 for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. Micah 7:6-8 REFLECT -Notice some of the troubles Micah lists in verse 6 and how he responds in verse 7 and 8. What are some of the troubles around you right now? How does Micah’s response encourage or challenge you today? -Take a moment to echo Micah’s prayer to God. He hears you.