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Is our world getting better or worse?
Eyes
Mark 5:24-34
24 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. 25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.
30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”
31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”
“Vision gives pain a purpose.” —Kris Vallotton
What do we lock our eyes on?
Hebrews 12:2
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, the things we cannot see will last forever.
Acts 2:25-28
I see the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will to leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with joy in your presence.
Mouths
How does what comes out of our mouths help or hinder us in walking out a hope-fueled life?
Thankfulness
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Encouragement
Ephesians 4:29 (TPT)
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
“Never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.
1. What is the purpose of my story, prayer request, conversation? What does the fruit of my words produce in myself and others?
2. Does it produce hope?
3. Help me love God and others more?
4. Install more trust in God and what He is up to?
5. Encourage?
Heart
Luke 6:45
What you say flows from what is in your heart.
How we use our
What do I do?
James 4:7
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
Proverbs 4:23-27
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
To guard/keep means: retain, maintain tend, reserve, restrain, preserve, hold, stay, to have in control
Keep asking
What is God doing in my life, in this situation?
What is God doing in my family?
What is God doing in His church?
What is God doing in my city, state, nation and around the world?
What is God doing?
Blessing
Romans 15:13 NIV
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.