Thursday December 04th
Hello and welcome to Bay Family Adventures, as we countdown until Christmas Day, we will be spending time thinking about the Christmas story and drawing near to God together. Each week we will look at a different theme and this week we will be thinking about hope.
Let’s start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Lord Jesus, we open our minds to learn new things, so that we know more about You. We open our hearts to be filled with Your love, so that we become more like You. And we open our hands to receive all we need to live our lives for You.
Father God, as we draw near to You, please draw near to us too. Teach us to pray. Speak, Lord, we’re listening.
God please help us remember our memory verse for this week:
Psalm 27:14 (NCV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord
Today we are thinking about what it means to have hope for things we can’t yet see. St Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome encouraging them to put their faith and hope in Jesus.
Romans 8:24–25 (NCV)
We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.
Sometimes it’s hard to wait — for answers, for change, or for Christmas! But this verse reminds us that real hope is about trusting God for what hasn’t happened yet. We can wait patiently because God is always faithful to His promises.
He says people do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something we do not have yet – he’s talking about when Jesus comes back and will make everything right. That’s a promise of Jesus – that he will return and make all things new, he will wipe away every tear, and we’ll live with Him forever. During Advent we remember Jesus’ birth, but we also remember that we are waiting for him to come again.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question which is: Is there something you really wished you had? A toy? A Lego set? Pause the player here.
And now let’s ask God to help us.
Father God, please help us to wait patiently and trust You with the things we hope for. Thank You that You are faithful and that our hope in You is never wasted.
Thank you, Jesus, that you are coming back to make everything right, give us strength and courage until that day.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Romans 8:24–25 (NCV)
We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.
What word or phrase stood out from today’s bible verses? Pause the player here.
And now let’s say yes to God. LLord Jesus, we say yes to waiting with patience and hope, trusting that You always keep Your promises.
After enjoying this time together, lets’ say our memory verse one more time:
Psalm 27:14 (NCV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Let’s point to our mouths.
Lord, please give us the right words and be encouraged to say them.
Amen.