😊☀️👋🏻 Good morning, friend!

It’s Pastor Blake again. I hope your day is off to a good start, and if not, let me encourage you—you’re in the right place. Spending these few moments together in God’s Word is one of the best ways to recenter and refocus.

Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like nothing is fair? Maybe you’ve faced injustice or seen someone else mistreated, and it’s left you frustrated or even angry. It’s hard to imagine a world where everything is truly set right.

But today’s passages remind us of an incredible truth: God is a God of justice. He sees what’s broken in this world—and in our hearts—and He doesn’t ignore it. Instead, He moves with both justice and grace, bringing His kingdom closer with every step. Let’s lean in and see what He has to teach us today.

🙏 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: Isaiah 11:1-9; Numbers 16:20-35; Acts 28:23-31

Today's Devotional:
Isaiah continues to describe the peaceful reign of the Messiah, where justice and righteousness are perfectly intertwined. The Messiah doesn’t judge by outward appearances or human standards. Instead, He sees with divine clarity, defending the poor and striking down the wicked (Isaiah 11:4).

Numbers 16, on the other hand, gives us a sobering view of what happens when people rebel against God’s authority. Korah and his followers chose pride and self-reliance over submission to God, and the consequences were devastating. Yet even in this harsh judgment, we see God’s holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice.

In Acts 28, Paul’s story gives us a glimpse of the other side of justice—God’s grace in action. Despite opposition, Paul continues to proclaim the good news of Jesus, boldly and without hindrance. His persistence reminds us that no matter how broken or unfair the world seems, God’s justice and grace are always at work.

So, what does this mean for us? It’s a call to trust in God’s perfect timing and to reflect His justice and grace in our own lives. Are we quick to defend the powerless? Do we show compassion to those who need it most? Do we speak boldly about the hope we have in Jesus?

Let’s commit to being people who live out God’s justice and grace today, trusting that He is always working to make all things right.

Reflection Questions:

1. What stood out to you from these passages?

2. What does this teach us about God, His 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?

📢 MY #HOPEDECLARATION

Create your own declaration of hope today!

“Today I will _______________________ because of Jesus Christ!”

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

❤️ 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?

🙏 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!