“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” Ephesians 1:18 NIV
SEEK HIM: Devotion is Meeting with God in Our Own Lives!
We live in a world of anxiety, depression, sadness and fear. However, through Jesus, God gives us hope for a future that far exceeds today’s troubles. As we pray, let’s “Seek Him” about hope for ourselves as well as for those He has entrusted to us. Listen to this intro podcast episode about this topic of hope, then May You Pray for Hope Along the Way!
WHAT: What is God saying through this Scripture?
God invites His people to look beyond what our physical eyes see to what our spiritual eyes can see. The eyes of your heart are your spiritual eyes, the innermost core of your being. With God’s supernatural gifts of wisdom and revelation (which He tells us about in Ephesians 1:17), His people will be enlightened to see all that He has in store. This is like having the light turned on to the blessings around us. Paul intentionally prayed for his friends to experience this. ~ Are you struggling with hopelessness or anxiety right now? What’s the difference between what your physical eyes see and what the eyes of your heart can see? Have you ever asked God to open the eyes of your heart?
WHY: Why does this Scripture matter?
We all need hope; we cannot live well without it. Hope is what keeps us going no matter what is happening in or around us. Hope is what helps us confidently pray and wait for God’s answers to those prayers. Hope is what helps us rise above and look past the current crises in our lives. Throughout His Word, God calls us to hope in Him, and Paul prayed for his friends to be able to have this hope. ~ God promises a rich inheritance for His people; how does this truth encourage you? Anxiety, depression, fear, sadness or hope; which is strongest in your life right now? What kind of hope are you holding onto right now; is it God’s hope or a different kind of hope?
HOW: How does God want us to respond to this truth?
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). God’s character is solid, unchanging, true, and faithful. Knowing Him more will help us trust Him more, which will then help us hold more tightly to the hope He promises. ~ Why can we trust God and hope in His promises? Type “God’s promises Bible verse” into your internet browser and read a couple of the references. Pray aloud the past week’s theme verses along with this week’s verse (and keep memorizing these powerful verses!)
SPEAK HIM: Discipleship is Making God Known to Others!
Paul prayed: “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). As God fills us with overflowing hope, we can pour some of that hope into other people’s lives. When you meet someone needing extra hope, be encouraged to ask if you can pray with them for God’s hope. This is an amazing way you can “Seek Him Speak Him!”
