Weekly devotion: What does it mean to hope in God?

CAPNI, Iraq

A village in northern Iraq where CAPNI works

Our partner in northern Iraq, CAPNI, lives by the motto ‘to keep hope alive’. Please pray for them as they seek to help disadvantaged Christian communities rebuild the homes and businesses they lost after the devastation and displacement caused by ISIS from 2014-2017.

Bible reading

‘Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honour depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.’

Psalm 62: 5-7

Thought

As the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus observed, ‘change is the only constant in life’. Yet while our external circumstances shift and sway, we can draw comfort in the fact that God is unchanging. He is our rock and our refuge, and we can find hope and rest in Him in even the most difficult times.

Ask yourself: On a practical level, what does it mean to place our hope in God?

Prayer

God of hope,

We lift before you the Christian community living in northern Iraq. We struggle to comprehend the challenges and difficulties they have faced in recent years: may they find refuge and hope in you.

We thank you for the dedicated and tireless work of CAPNI. May you prosper their efforts to help the Christian community rebuild their homes and businesses. May their work have a ripple effect in the region, causing more people in northern Iraq to have the means and vision to regain purpose and joy.

We thank you that you are a God unchanging – may you draw near to us as we reflect on the meaning of this wonderful truth.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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