😊☀️👋🏻 Good morning, friend!

Hi there, it’s Pastor Blake!

Have you ever felt like joy was just out of reach? Sometimes life can feel like an uphill battle, leaving us longing for something to restore our hearts. Today, as we step into this week’s Advent theme of peace, we’ll see how God’s peace brings joy even in the hardest seasons. His peace doesn’t ignore our struggles—it meets us right where we are, offering restoration and hope.

Let’s open our hearts to the peace that only God can give as we dive into today’s readings.

🙏 HUMBLE

Begin this time pondering the following questions:

1. What are you thankful for today?

2. What burdens, fears, or areas of sin do you need to release to God today?

Now, let’s ask God to help us find HOPE in Him today:

“Lord, open my heart and mind to Your Word today. Help me to see the hope You have for me in these pages. Shine Your light on every truth, and guide me to understand, trust, and apply what You reveal. May Your presence transform my heart and fill me with the hope only You can give. Amen.”

📖 OBSERVE

Now, let’s observe what God has to say in His Word:

Today's Readings:
READ: Psalm 126; Isaiah 40:1-11; Romans 8:22-25

Today's Devotional:
Psalm 126 celebrates a season of restoration and joy. After years of hardship, the people of Israel reflect on how God’s faithfulness brought them home, saying, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (verse 3, NLT). Even though they still faced challenges, their confidence in God’s ability to restore remained unshaken.

Isaiah 40 reinforces this hope with the promise of God’s comfort. The image of God as a Shepherd, gently carrying His lambs, shows His tender care for His people. Yet Isaiah also highlights God’s power: the everlasting Creator who never grows weak or weary. This combination of tenderness and strength reveals a God whose peace is both personal and eternal.

Romans 8 brings it all together with the reminder that creation is groaning for restoration, much like we do in our personal lives. While we wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises, His peace sustains us. The hope He offers is not passive—it’s active, grounding us in joy and strength even in seasons of uncertainty.

Reflection Questions:

1. What stood out to you from these passages?

2. What does this teach us about God’s character and what He does?

3. What does this teach us about people, including yourself?

💡 PERSONALIZE

Now to make this personal in your life, consider this question:

What is one area where God is encouraging you to grow or change?

❤️ ENGAGE

1. Who in your life would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned today?

2. What practical way can you use what you’ve learned today to bless or serve someone?

📢 MY #HOPEDECLARATION

Create your own declaration of hope today!

“Today I can _______________________ because of Jesus Christ!”

Snap a pic of your #HopeDeclaration and share it on Social Media!

🙏 STOP AND PRAY: 

Take a moment to pray through everything God has revealed and done in your heart today:

1. Thank God for His blessings.

   • Praise Him for what you were thankful for earlier. Reflect on His faithfulness, provision, and the ways He’s been present in your life.

2. Surrender your burdens, fears, and sins to Him.

   • Lay down the stresses or struggles weighing on your heart today. Trust Him to carry what you cannot.

   • Confess any sins, and receive His forgiveness and grace to walk in His ways.

3. Thank Him for what He has revealed today.

   • Praise Him for what you’ve learned about His character and work.

   • Acknowledge what He has shown you about yourself—whether it’s encouragement, conviction, or an area where He’s calling you to grow.

4. Ask for strength and guidance to obey.

   • Pray for His power to live out what He’s taught you today.

   • Surrender your #HopeDeclaration, asking for His Spirit to enable you to live it out in a way that brings Him glory.

5. Pray for boldness to share God’s Word.

   • Ask God to open doors for you to share today’s passage or truth with someone.

   • Pray for courage to engage someone in conversation about God, asking if they are interested in the things of God.

   • If they are, pray for boldness to invite them to study the Bible with you.

   • Ask God for a vision to multiply disciples and for His Spirit to guide you in this mission.

Take your time, and let this be a moment of deep connection with God. Trust Him to fill you with His peace, empower you to obey, and give you boldness to share His truth with others today.

✨ READY TO GO DEEPER?

Take a few moments to reflect on today’s insights and how they apply to your journey. Use your Daily HOPE Journal to capture your thoughts, prayers, and commitments, and watch your relationship with God grow deeper each day.

Don’t have a journal yet? Grab yours here and start your journey.

❤️ SPREAD THE HOPE, GET A DIGITAL JOURNAL!

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💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: 

We’d love to hear from you! To stay committed, reply to this email or head over to the comments section on today’s post to share your #HopeDeclaration. Let’s encourage each other in this journey!

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 

Want to go deeper? Listen to this week’s Hope for the Mountainside podcast episode.

⛪️ WHY NOT VISIT US IN PERSON?

We’d love to see you at Mountainside Community Bible Church! Join us for worship and a welcoming community every Sunday at 10 AM. Plan your visit below—we can’t wait to meet you!