Latest / The Daily Word / July 22 – Where You Place Your Hope
Transcript
- Brandon: Well, welcome once again to another episode of the Daily Word Podcast. My name is Brandon, and I am one of the pastors here at our church. And today just want to say thank you again for joining us. if you're unfamiliar with the podcast, maybe you're just now tuning in or you need a refresher, maybe you need me to give you a sales pitch so you can encourage your friend, family member, or coworker to listen to the podcast. Here's what we're doing on the podcast every day. We're simply taking the New Testament portion of the Life Journal reading plan. That is the reading plan for our church. And we are finding a scripture from that reading plan, doing our Devo scripture observation application prayer, breaking it down, telling you what it says, how to apply it to our life, how to respond. And then we're we're doing that for two reasons. One, to hopefully every day give you an encouragement, inspire you. challenge you to serve Jesus and be and do what he's called you to do. But but secondly to remind you that God really does want to spend time with you. And so I'm I'm hoping these podcasts are more than just like a, you know, 10 minute little encouragement, but they really are a man, I got to get in the word because God spoke that to Pastor Brandon, but God's got something he wants to speak to me. And so today is July the 22nd in our reading it is in First Peter chapter one. Now, first Peter is a a book of the Bible that I think about often when I think about just going through hard times. Just in first and second Peter, when I think about going through difficult circumstances and difficult situations. I I hate to be the bearer of bad news, by the way. but life is going to be full of ups and downs, highs and lows, challenges, trials, tribulations. the Bible actually guarantees that. The book of James says, Count it all joy, not if, but when you fall into various trials. the book of Romans says, glory not only in the grace of God, but glory in the tribulations that you will go through. And Jesus was very specific. He goes, Listen, most assuredly, like for sure, bro, you are going to go through difficult times. He said he says that just listen, most assuredly you You will go through trials and tribulations. Take heart of overcome the world, but just know like you're gonna go through it. And the book of first and second Peter isn't exclusively about suffering, but there are different passages in here that really do talk about going through hard times. ta talk about how we shouldn't be surprised when we go through hard times. In fact, looking for it while I talk, but first Peter chapter one, verse seven, it's not the verse that I'm gonna read to you. But it says, well, let's go, let's go to verse six. Verse six says this in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you've been grieved by various trials, that the genuist of genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold and and that perishes, though it though it tested by fire may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the resurrection of Jesus. This is a common theme through first Peter, where Peter's like, guys. I know right now you are going through it. In fact, one passage he goes, guys, I don't know why you're so surprised. Of course, this is a part of life. And and so I want to dedicate this podcast, this next six minutes that I have to to anyone who's listening today. They're just they're just going through a hard time. And I want to remind you, go read first and second Peter. Just know this is normal. got God is with you. But but but but I want to give you a handle today. Here's what the the verse that I just p picked out or honed in on. First Peter one thirteen. Therefore Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. That's first Peter 1:13. Here's what stuck out to me. It's three things Peter says to do. He says, number one, gird up the loins of your mind. In other words, let me say it this way: it's probably not the most. Spiritual way to say it, he goes, guys, get it together. He's not saying like get your life together. He's going, hey, hey, hey, right now, your thinking's all over the place. Isn't that so true that when you go through hard times, your thinking just like just starts to spiral? He goes, Whoa, hey, gird up, take hold, take captive your thinking, get your thinking in order. Secondly, he said he says this he says, be sober. Be be Be sober. In other words, let's just say this. Be rational. Hey, let's not start talking crazy. Isn't it funny how when you go through hard times, not only can your mind start to spin, but you can start saying things, doing things, planning to do things that just aren't rational. It just doesn't make sense. And then he says, rest your hope fully upon the grace of God that will fully be brought to you at the resurrection of Christ. Number one, he goes, hey, get a hold your thinking. Number two, he goes, hey, settle down, be sober. Let's, let's, let's not do anything rash. Number three, rest your hope fully upon the grace of God. I remember when we moved in this house. I'm sitting in my bedroom right now recording this podcast. And when we were moved in this house, we we had seen the house before it had really gotten hot. It was kind of like a perfect day. And so the the the HVAC wasn't running when we saw the house. Wasn't running. it was just really beautiful. We we just really didn't think didn't think twice about it. The ceiling fans are going, and so it felt fine in the house. HVAC worked, but it wasn't running. And I remember the first night we moved in, it was January, it was really cold, we turned on the heater, and all of a sudden it felt like we were living inside of an ashtray. The HVAC system had been covered, absolutely covered. covered in in cigarette smoke. Just yellow tar nastiness. We we we we didn't know that. someone had bought the house, flipped it, kind of, you know, re-remodeled it. It looked beautiful. It looked awesome. We loved the house. But we're getting there the first night and all of a sudden like we it's like it's hard to breathe in our house because because it just smelled like cigarette smoke so bad. And and I remember that first night, and and this is by the way, I know this is like a minor thing. This is not like real life, like, my gosh, like big deal. But at the moment, it felt like really big deal. And I remember that night, my my thinking was just going all over the place. We got duped. This was intentional. Like, how could how how could they do that? no, now we're stuck in this house forever. my gosh, are we gonna get secondhand smoke? like and I'm just like my my mind is racing. And then I start thinking like irrationally, well, you know what? Forget it. Like w we're just gonna leave. We're what we're gonna turn. We'll sell the house tomorrow. And I just start thinking like irrational thoughts of what we could do or should do. I'm gonna track down these people who renovated this house and I'm gonna and and and and and then I start thinking like what can I do? And and in that moment, it's a small example, but it's an example of going through something. It's like your mind starts racing, you start thinking irrationally, and you start trying to figure it out. And Peter says right here, hey. Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and put your hope in God. Let me say it this way: take your thoughts captive, get your mind under control, allow the Holy Spirit, we've been given the spirit, not a fear, but a love, power, and a sound mind, allowing the sound mind of God's spirit to overshadow and overtake your irrational mind and spirit, and put your hope and trust fully in God. God. There's been so many instances where I've had to do that. Okay, mind taking thoughts captive, thinking soberly, and putting my hope in God. When when we do that, not only do we invite God to begin to work on our behalf, but we feel a peace and a settledness that the Bible would say this, it's beyond understanding. Peace beyond understanding. And so my encouragement to you today, whoever you are, whatever you're going through, is that you would stop and allow by the Holy Spirit. Your mind to just settle. Take your thoughts captive. Get your thinking under control. Start thinking soberly and rightly in alignment with the word and the wisdom of God. And put your hope and trust fully in God and in His grace. I believe that if you will do that, God not only is going to start moving on your behalf. But God's going to start showing you and helping you through whatever you're going through. And you are going to make it to the other side. God, help us to do that. Help us to take our thoughts captive, think soberly, and put our hope fully in you. We love you so much. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Hey, once again, thank you for joining us. And tomorrow we'll see you again in another episode of the Daily Word Podcast.