Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.
Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.
Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey with Jesus.
PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined guidance through darkness. This week we will investigate Hope. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”
PROMISE: Ephesians 1:18 Amplified Bible
18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people).
The eyes of the heart can see, feel, and hear our hope in Jesus.
PSALM: Jesus the Very Thought of Thee (Early 12th Century) By: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
The songwriter knew that when we fall, shame and guilt appear to block our remorse and kill, steal, and destroy our repentance. In those times we must remember what hope looks like, feels like, and smells like. What does hope look like, feel like, and sound like to you?
PARABLE: 
During these uncertain times, HOPE is something that can be hard to see, hear, or feel. As I rewatched Black Panther starring Chadwick Boseman, I was reminded of what hope looks like, feels like, and smells like. Chadwick took Hollywood by surprise and gave a hopeful message that in Christ we too–in the struggle– can use our superpowers and be hope givers. Few people knew that he was dying of colon cancer as he played African American icons such as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson in Hollywood films. The first African American superhero icon Chadwick Boseman passed away this weekend but not without leaving a legacy of hope to all races to not give up in the face of adversity. He used his days wisely letting his light shine through the obstacles and choosing to be a hope giver.
Perhaps you are stumbling to stand in hope or maybe you need additional encouragement to keep standing. Find joy in knowing that the light of hope is shining even as the public display of disparities in health and social justice rise and anxiety and depression and use and abuse of substances and violence increase. There is a Hope Giver named Jesus who is providing us with light in our darkness through the hope of other’s faith displayed.
I leave you with the words of Chadwick Boseman“When God has something for you, it doesn’t matter who stands against it. God will move someone that’s holding you back away from the door and put someone there who will open it for you, if it’s meant for you. I don’t know what your future is, but if you are willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes, the one that has ultimately proven to have more meaning, more victory, more glory then you will not regret it. Now, this is your time. The light of new realizations shines on you today.”
PONDER and WANDER: If you choose, take time to ponder these questions: Is it your season to be a hope giver or a hope receiver? If you are to be a hope giver, who are you assigned to? If you are to be a hope receiver, who is supposed to encourage you to hope?
Soul care training exercise: There are times when we need to allow Jesus to hold the space of hope for ourselves and others. If you choose, when you are ready, invite the Holy Spirit to help you HOPE.
- First, Hope in Jesus. He can restore our contrite hearts. Tell him when you are feeling hopeless. Tell him when you feel hopeful.
- Next, Open your heart to search if this is your season to be a hope receiver or a hope giver.
- Then, Pray and seek Jesus to fill you with an abudance of hope.
- Finally, Enjoy the gift of hope .
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that I can find hope in you. Help me to be a hope giver and share it with those you have assigned me to. In the hopeful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to breathe in and let the work of your wandering fill you with hope.
Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.
Until next time, be Resonant.
The post What is your hope appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions:
Hope in Jesus: Photo by Tia Cifferno with text added
What does Hope feel like: Photo by Renee Morgan with added text
Hope Giver: Photo by Mary Shortreed with added text
BONUS REFLECTION: If you choose, take seven minutes to do this bonus hope reflection.
Dr. Sherri Woods even though I read this powerful message a couple of days after you posted it. I am not surprised of your wisdom and knowledge. Bless your heart richly. Truly if people would take time and read this spiritual post, they too could be helped. I want to thank you for this post. We do need hope today. We do need Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless you as you are blessing us. I’m proud to call you friend and much more my Sister. Love you. Keep reaching and teaching. Glory to God.
Thank you, Sherri, for your insightful, faithful work of spiritual guidance! I am strengthened each time I “Wander with Jesus” through your posts.