Flames of Hope

Flames of Hope

READ: JOHN 8:12; EPHESIANS 2:12-13; COLOSSIANS 1:12-14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%208%3A12%3B%20EPHESIANS%202%3A12-13%3B%20COLOSSIANS%201%3A12-14&version=NIV] I was stuck in the darkness Didn’t know there was light Yet a flame in the darkness Was burning so bright But I was blind to the fire Couldn’t see the bright flames Till a voice from the fire Called out my name I didn’t want to believe it Or raise up false hope But the voice drew me closer And it gave me a home Now I live in the light In a bright, hopeful home I thank God for His voice And for the flames of His hope • Gracie Brooke • We were born to the darkness, born to sin and despair. But God doesn’t want us to live in the darkness without any hope. His love reaches out to us, beckons us to come and live with Him, to be enfolded in His love, light, and hope. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He faced the deep darkness of the grave so that we could have a home with Him in His kingdom of light. For more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. • As we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new, darkness is still prevalent. Yet we can know that we belong to Jesus, the Light. We have His constant presence with us—guiding us, protecting us, blessing us, and empowering us to shine His light as we reach out to others in His love. What kind of darkness have you experienced lately? Consider taking some time to tell Jesus about this. You can be honest about how the darkness feels—and you can ask Him to help you see how He is bringing light, and how He might be inviting you to be part of His good work. • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 139:11-12; Matthew 4:16; John 1:1-18; 3:16-21; 12:46; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Ephesians 5:8-14; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:5–2:1; Revelation 21:1-5; 23-24; 22:5. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

My Daily Habits for Dealing with Anxiety

READ: PSALM 73:23-26; 1 PETER 5:7 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2073%3A23-26%3B%201%20PETER%205%3A7&version=NIV] I struggle with anxiety every day. It’s not because I don’t know that God loves me and that He’ll take care of me—I do know this—but it’s simply something that I deal with. Maybe you struggle with anxiety too. There are some daily habits I’ve taken on that seem to help me live with a little more peace. These are not a cure, but they help me feel calmer and more easily able to trust God. I pray and read my Bible at the start of every day. This helps me get my focus where it should be, and it allows me time to cast my anxiety on God (Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Peter 5:7). I move my body in some way in the morning. Sometimes I follow videos that I find online to slowly stretch and breathe, and lately I’ve started playing worship music while doing heel raises and squats too. I try to go for a daily walk. This gives me a chance to move my body again, be in nature, and enjoy being alone with God. I usually feel the least anxious while walking. I know that not getting enough sleep affects my mind and how I feel, so I take time to rest when I can—especially if I’m feeling extra tired or extra anxious. God loves us, and He will take care of us. He has us in His hand. I’ve found it’s easiest for me to believe all that when I’m taking care of my body and getting the rest I need. May you find relief in the midst of your anxiety, maybe even by taking on some of the habits that I have. And may you experience the love of Jesus, who is always with you. • Emily Acker • Have you discovered any habits that help you feel peaceful? We live in a world that’s full of stressors and anxiety. Thankfully, Jesus understands how we feel, and He promises that anxiety will be gone forever when He returns. And in the meantime, He promises to always be with us. How could it be helpful to remember that, whenever we feel anxious, Jesus is right here with us? • God wants to help us in lots of ways, including prayer and Scripture—and the care and expertise of other people. When you find yourself feeling worried or anxious, who is a trusted adult you could talk to? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). [Jesus said,] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)

Battling Intrusive Thoughts

READ: PSALM 139:1-12; MATTHEW 6:9-13; ROMANS 8:26-39 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%20139%3A1-12%3B%20MATTHEW%206%3A9-13%3B%20ROMANS%208%3A26-39&version=WEB] “What’s wrong with me?” I said to myself as unwelcome thoughts invaded my prayer time. Guilt consumed me. My desire to pray was spoiled by toxic thoughts. This was my special time with God, and I felt like I’d failed. “How can I call myself a Christian? I’ll have to quit praying.” Has this happened to you too? If so, you’re not alone. I discovered there were strategies that helped me, and hopefully they’ll help you too. 1. Remember the world is dysfunctional. Trying to live a holy, God-filled life in a broken world is difficult because humanity is scarred from the effects of original sin (Genesis 3). Thankfully, Jesus knows we’re imperfect, and He wants to walk with us in our brokenness. Dwelling on the ways we think we’ve failed does not help, but bringing them to Jesus will. 2. Acknowledge the struggle and keep praying. One day at church, I felt like the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask someone if they’d ever suffered terrible thoughts while praying. This believer had, in fact, experienced a similar problem! “Pray more” was the helpful advice given. When we pray, we encounter Jesus, which is why our prayers are powerful. That’s why the enemy wants to disrupt us before we begin. When we’re tempted to think, “What’s the use of praying if I keep getting distracted?” we can remember that Jesus knows our hearts. He is with us in our struggle. We can hand it over to Him. This can be as simple as saying, Lord, you know these thoughts aren’t mine. I don’t want them. Help me focus on you (see Romans 6:11-12). 3. Remember that God is loving. He adores us more than we could ever imagine. He understands us and sees our daily struggle. Nothing can separate us from His love, because He came to repair our broken relationship with Himself through dying on the cross and rising from the grave (Romans 8:38-39). Even when our minds are distracted, He knows our desire to spend time with Him. Meditating on these truths by reading Scripture or praying aloud can be helpful ways to concentrate. We can say things like, “Father, you know me, you understand my struggle. You are loving and merciful. Thank you for being with me right now.” • Cindy Lee • Have you struggled with troublesome thoughts while praying? Jesus has so much compassion for you, and He wants to help. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? You can ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to people who’ve experienced what you’re going through. There is freedom in being open with trusted believers who can listen, provide advice, or simply pray with us. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (WEB)

Living in Community

READ: ACTS 2:41-47; 6:1-7; ROMANS 12:1-21; EPHESIANS 5:19 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ACTS%202%3A41-47%3B%206%3A1-7%3B%20ROMANS%2012%3A1-21%3B%20EPHESIANS%205%3A19&version=CSB] The lights flickered off, and a voice wavered over the intercom as rain began pelting the glass dome above my head. “The Atmospheric Observation Center has upgraded the oncoming macro to a category five. Please make your way to a designated safety location.” The Center always rated the storms that raged across the tundra against the likelihood that they would knock out our electrical plant. When that happened, it could take several days for our techs to repair the damage. A category five meant only our most vital, life-sustaining systems would remain activated until the macro passed. All other systems would be shut down, conserving energy just in case. By the faint glow of the floor lights, I made my way from the food plots to the underground amphitheater where members of our pod would gather to wait out the storm. Everyone congregated there—mechanics, food service, medical, daycare workers. It took people of many skills and abilities working together to maintain life on a hostile planet. By the time I arrived, many of my neighbors were already clustered around battery-powered lamps carrying blankets, food packets, and cups of hot chocolate. There was no telling how long the macro might last. It could be a day. It could be a week. People were settling in, preparing for a long haul. “Micah, come join us!” a man called to me. I recognized Manuel, one of our systems technicians. He carried a guitar and gestured to a group gathered around a board game. I waved in acknowledgement and entered the queue forming to check out survival kits. Rather than fearing these storms, we chose to think of them as an opportunity to gather with friends, to encourage each other, to laugh, to share, to sing, and sometimes to cry. As frightening as macros could be, the hardships they brought served to remind us we were all in this thing together—and our God was with us too. • Michelle Isenhoff • What stuck out to you in today’s allegorical story? As Christians, we’re all part of God’s family, and He calls us to live life together and care for each other, reminding one another of Jesus’s love, promises, forgiveness, and presence with us. Can you think of a time you weathered a storm with some of your siblings in Christ? What was that like? How can the example of the early church teach us how to live in community today? Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 (CSB)

The Shepherd's Voice

READ: JOHN 10:10-18, 27-28; 1 PETER 2:24-25 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%2010%3A10-18%2C%2027-28%3B%201%20PETER%202%3A24-25&version=CSB] “The sheep are too close to the road!” I said to my husband. We were on our daily walk, which took us past a field where we frequently saw sheep grazing. But today, the green grass near the road enticed them into dangerous territory: the yard between the shepherd’s house and a busy road. We alerted the shepherd, and he confirmed the sheep were in an off-limits area. When he called to them, they immediately turned from the lush grass and followed him to the safe pasture. This scene reminded me of Jesus’s words in John 10: “I am the good shepherd…My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me” (verses 11, 27). What are the blessings of following the Good Shepherd? Jesus gave His life for us when He died on the cross because He loves us (verse 11). Jesus protects us (verses 12-13). Through Jesus, we know God the Father (verses 14-15). Jesus gives us eternal life through His own resurrection from the grave (verses 17-18, 28). As Christians, what is our response to the Good Shepherd’s voice? We know Him (verses 14). We recognize His voice and follow Him (verses 27-28). Many voices demand our attention, so how do we learn to listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice? As we read the Bible and pray, both individually and with fellow Christians, the Holy Spirit allows us to hear Jesus’s voice, shows us how to follow Him, and empowers us to do so. By responding to the Shepherd’s voice, we receive more than just safe pasture. We follow the one who loves us so much that He took our sins to the cross and made us right before God. Our eternal destiny is with Jesus, the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20). • Debbie Ewald • How does it make you feel to think of yourself as a sheep and Jesus as your shepherd? • Like sheep can be enticed by grass growing in dangerous places, sometimes we’re enticed by the allures of sin, believing, as the old saying goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” But the truth is, sin is just one of the ways the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy—while Jesus, the Good Shepherd, wants to give us life in abundance (Psalm 37:3-4; John 10:10). We often forget that God’s ways are best, and that every good gift comes from Him, but He continues to pursue us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people (Luke 15:1-7; James 1:12-18). Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you notice when you’re straying into sin, remind you of Jesus’s goodness, and help you grow in discerning His voice? [Jesus said,] “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (CSB)