PAUSING
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Holy Spirit, breathe new life into my story. Expand my heart and my imagination. Stir up my longing and desire for You. Draw me close to You that we may enjoy each other.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you" - Psalm 42:1-6a
Hope is like a close friend that encourages us to be honest about what's happening right now. It's not afraid to ask us the tough questions, and it doesn't forget to remind us of all the ways God has been there in the past. Hope faithfully motivates us to keep showing up, placing ourselves in the way of oncoming grace, with the understanding that, somehow, sometime, in some special way, God will meet us exactly where we are and guide us forward.
Am I in a season where my soul is downcast? In this passage the Psalmist addresses his own soul - gives himself a listening ear and an encouragement. What if we could do the same today.
Soul, how are you feeling?
Are you in anyway downcast? Will you tell me why?
Soul, do you remember when it was different, when it was easier?
Do you remember when it was so easy to go to church full of worship and wonder?
Do you remember when God's Word felt so alive, and prayer was a joy?
Somehow some way, God's going to bring that spark back. Hang in there and hope in God!
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
GODS PROMISE
"Peace, peace, to those far and near,
says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”" - Isaiah 57:19b
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Holy Spirit, breathe new life into my story. Expand my heart and my imagination. Stir up my longing and desire for You. Draw me close to You that we may enjoy each other.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you" - Psalm 42:1-6a
Hope is like a close friend that encourages us to be honest about what's happening right now. It's not afraid to ask us the tough questions, and it doesn't forget to remind us of all the ways God has been there in the past. Hope faithfully motivates us to keep showing up, placing ourselves in the way of oncoming grace, with the understanding that, somehow, sometime, in some special way, God will meet us exactly where we are and guide us forward.
Am I in a season where my soul is downcast? In this passage the Psalmist addresses his own soul - gives himself a listening ear and an encouragement. What if we could do the same today.
Soul, how are you feeling?
Are you in anyway downcast? Will you tell me why?
Soul, do you remember when it was different, when it was easier?
Do you remember when it was so easy to go to church full of worship and wonder?
Do you remember when God's Word felt so alive, and prayer was a joy?
Somehow some way, God's going to bring that spark back. Hang in there and hope in God!
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
- Lord, I trust You today to be my hope, especially when…
- Lord, satisfy my soul’s longing for…
- Because You are the God of hope, I will praise You even when…
GODS PROMISE
"Peace, peace, to those far and near,
says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”" - Isaiah 57:19b