😊☀️👋🏻 Good morning, friend!

Pastor Blake here. Our world often celebrates wealth, comfort, and popularity as the pinnacle of blessing. Yet Jesus offers a radical countercultural message. In today’s passage, He pronounces blessings on those who seem disadvantaged and speaks “woes” to those who appear to have it all.

As we dive deeper, we’ll discover that God’s kingdom values are fundamentally different from what culture admires. We’ll also see an invitation to find our security in God rather than our circumstances.

🙏 HUMBLE

Begin this time pondering the following questions:

1. What are you thankful for today?

2. What burdens, fears, or areas of sin do you need to release to God today?

Now, let’s ask God to help us find HOPE in Him today:

“Lord, open my heart and mind to Your Word today. Help me to see the hope You have for me in these pages. Shine Your light on every truth, and guide me to understand, trust, and apply what You reveal. May Your presence transform my heart and fill me with the hope only You can give. Amen.”

📖 OBSERVE

Now, let’s observe what God has to say in His Word:

Today's Reading:
READ: Luke 6:20-26 (NLT)

Reflection Questions:

1. What stood out to you most from this passage?

2. What does this teach us about God, His character, and what He does?

3. What does this teach us about people, including yourself?

Today's Devotional:
Jesus stands among His disciples and a crowd, declaring blessings for the poor, hungry, and those who weep. By contrast, He proclaims woes for the rich, the well-fed, and the popular. These statements highlight God’s tender attention to the overlooked and suffering. They also warn that comfort and excess can lull people into spiritual complacency.

This passage shows us a God who cares deeply for those who have little—assuring them that their hope lies in Him. The “woes” aren’t a condemnation of having resources; rather, they caution us against placing trust in fleeting wealth or applause. Our human tendency is to measure success by the world’s metrics, but Jesus recalibrates our perspective.

In practical terms, this could mean examining whether our sense of worth depends on status or possessions. It could also involve cultivating compassion for those who struggle and a willingness to offer help. When we align with the heart of Christ, we learn to rejoice in what God calls good—even if it contradicts society’s ideals. And in doing so, we find a deeper, lasting joy that circumstances can’t take away.

💡 PERSONALIZE

Now to make this personal in your life, consider this question:

What is one area where God is encouraging you to grow or change?

📢 MY #HOPEDECLARATION

Create your own declaration of hope today!

“Today I will _______________________ because of Jesus Christ!”

Snap a pic of your #HopeDeclaration and share it on Social Media!

❤️ ENGAGE

1. Who in your life would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned today?

2. What practical way can you use what you’ve learned today to bless or serve someone?

🙏 STOP AND PRAY: 

Take time to pray through what God has revealed to you today:

• Thank Him for His blessings and faithfulness.

• Surrender your stresses, burdens, fears, and sins, trusting Him to carry them.

• Pray through what He taught you in today’s passage, including your #HopeDeclaration, asking for His Spirit to empower you to live it out.

• Ask for boldness to share today’s story and invite others to follow Him, praying that God would use your obedience to multiply disciples.

Let this time align your heart with His and empower you for His mission.

✨ READY TO GO DEEPER?

Take a few moments to reflect on today’s insights and how they apply to your journey. Use your Daily HOPE Journal to capture your thoughts, prayers, and commitments, and watch your relationship with God grow deeper each day.

Don’t have a journal yet? Grab yours here and start your journey.

❤️ SPREAD THE HOPE, GET A DIGITAL JOURNAL!

Your impact is just beginning! Every share spreads hope and brings more people into this journey of encouragement. Keep sharing to unlock your next exclusive reward and help build a stronger, hope-filled community. Click below to keep the momentum going!

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💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: 

We’d love to hear from you! To stay committed, reply to this email or head over to the comments section on today’s post to share your #HopeDeclaration. Let’s encourage each other in this journey!

⛪️ WHY NOT VISIT US IN PERSON?

We’d love to see you at Mountainside Community Bible Church! Join us for worship and a welcoming community every Sunday at 10 AM. Plan your visit below—we can’t wait to meet you!