Day 8 – 2020

Day 8

A Prayer of Hope

hope

to look forward with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe or trust



2 Corinthians 3:12

The Glory of the New Covenant.

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

 

 

“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”


– Mother Teresa, Albanian/Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary

For some, this season of social distancing has inflamed our bad habits, taken us into the darkness of our past hurts, and reminded us of our hang-ups. While we might have already lived through darkness and conquered it in Jesus’ name, it’s seemingly still there, lurking, waiting to get us alone, isolated. 

Today’s scripture tells us we have hope now. This hope isn’t referring to something in the future, rather this is about our present. And it reminds us that the hope we had when we came to faith, the hope that we found when we walked through the stages of recovery, the hope we have in an invisible force, is here. Now. That hope, which achieves the impossible, has a name: Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that “Those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Today you might have felt weary, broken, tired, or anxious, but since we have hope, we have the assurance that each day carries with it this renewal of God’s strength — a strength that we were never designed to live apart from, a strength that makes us BOLD, bold enough to soar. 

Many people like watching the birds outside each day; children long to fly and soar high above the clouds with them. It is interesting to note that these birds don’t fly alone much. They gather on the power lines and then, in one movement they all launch together as one flock to soar through the sky in a formation that actually makes the flying easier for each other. Similarly, we were made to “fly” together. 

Together, as part of a church, we can either walk alone or fly boldly into the unknown we face. By giving each other love, encouragement, and accountability, our hurts, habits and hang-ups are replaced with healing, strength, and peace. Together takes work, especially if you’ve been wounded by others. But together WE have hope, and together WE will boldly live our lives in Jesus’ name. 

Pray

Read and repeat the verse for today (2 Corinthians 3:12). As you do, circle the “we” statements. Next, as you again read and repeat the verse, change “we” to the names of those you are currently building community with. It might be your family, your roommate, your friends, your small group, your sponsor.

Now write the names of each of those people down somewhere — in a journal, a piece of paper, a note on your phone — and pray daily for them. Thank God for the community you have, but also ask God to reveal how you can be his light to them in this season.

Finally, reach out to each of those people by text, call, or email. Tell them that you are thankful for them and ask how you can pray daily for each of them during this pandemic. Include them daily throughout this week of our 21-day prayer journey. 

Are you finding yourself struggling with anxiety, depression, hurts, hang-ups and habits in this season? We would love to walk with you through this time. Visit eastside.com/care to connect and get more information.