Soundtrack for Hope

 Do you carry hope for every aspect of your life?

 1.      Discover Hope

 “But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt. - Hos. 2:14-15 (NLT)

 Hope (Tikvah): expectation; something yearned for and anticipated eagerly; something for which one waits. 

 “But 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.” – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” – 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

 “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)

 Any aspect of your life that doesn’t glisten with hope is believing a lie and that lie is a stronghold of the devil!” – Francis Frangipane

 

2.      Inspect for Hope

 “For the Lord sees not as man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” - 1 Samual 16:7b (ESV)

 “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.” - Jeremiah 17:10a

 “He is more concerned about what’s happening in us then through us.” – Steve Backlund

 

3.      Show up with Hope

 “And again, they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye.” - Ruth 1:14a (NLT)

 “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Cor. 13:13 (NLT)

 

4.      Hold on to Hope

 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - Heb 10:23 (NIV)

 “And again, they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi.” - Ruth 1:14 (NLT)

 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7 (NIV)

“Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? The kings of the earth stand in a line ready to fight, and all the leaders are against the Lord and against His Chosen One.  They say, “Let us break their chains and throw them away from us.”  He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. - Ps. 2:1-4 (NLV)

“The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.  But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.” - Ps. 37:12-13 (NLT)

 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14.17 (NKJV)

 

Questions for discussion/reflection:

1.      Have you ever noticed the difference in your outlook between times when you had hope for a situation and times when you didn’t?

2.      Can you think of some ongoing aspects of your life (circumstances, people, or situations) where you lack hope?

3.      Talk about the above areas and try to identify the lie you are rooting your lack of hope in?

4.      Ask God to show you His truth to start a new soundtrack of hope for that aspect of your life!

5.      Write a declaration statement of that truth!