{"id":2404,"date":"2025-09-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2025-08-21T12:47:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T16:47:23","slug":"epray-ep-22-lectio-divina-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2025\/09\/01\/epray-ep-22-lectio-divina-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 22 Lectio Divina: Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<a name=\"top\"><\/a>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"y-intro guten-block \">\r\n\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper--row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper--left\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"y-intro--title\">ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 22 Hope<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--content\"><p>Listen to the episode here, or read the transcript below &#8211; and don&#8217;t forget to tune in weekly!<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2404-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2025\/08\/sept-2.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2025\/08\/sept-2.mp3\">https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2025\/08\/sept-2.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">ePray | Episode 22| September 1, 2025<br \/>\n<strong>Lectio Divina: Hope<\/strong><br \/>\nWith Char Lockhart &#8211; Central Alberta Youth Unlimited<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"button primary\" href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/epray\/\" target=\"_self\">Return to ePray<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"#read\" target=\"_self\">Read Transcript<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--upper--right\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img extend\">\n\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img--extend short\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2025\/08\/September.jpg);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"y-c-img--contain\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2025\/08\/September.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"y-intro--lower\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"y-intro--lower--left\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<a name=\"read\"><\/a>\n\n\n<section class=\"y-columned-content white one center  guten-block\" >\r\n\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--column y-color-responsive-text\"><p><strong>Lectio Divina: Hope<br \/>\nDate: September 1, 2025<br \/>\nScripture: Jeremiah 29:11<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Char Lockhart<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 1: Inward Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome, friends. Thank you for joining me for this moment of quiet reflection and prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our theme this month is Hope\u2014a word that can feel fragile when we\u2019re facing uncertainty, but one that is deeply rooted in the promises of God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we begin, I invite you to take a few deep breaths. Let your shoulders relax. Settle your heart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a short breath prayer to center us:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathe in: \u201cYou hold my future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathe out: \u201cI trust in You.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s prepare to listen to God\u2019s Word together. Today\u2019s passage comes from Jeremiah 29:11:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c\u2018For I know the plans I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This verse was spoken to people living in exile. They had been uprooted, displaced, and discouraged. And yet\u2014even there\u2014God reminds them that His plans still hold. He has not abandoned them. He has not forgotten.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s spend a few moments asking God to help us receive this promise personally today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are there areas of your life where hope feels distant or uncertain? Invite God to meet you in that space.<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What would it look like to entrust your future\u2014your fears, your plans, your questions\u2014to the God who knows and loves you?<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How might God be inviting you to live with hope, even in a season of waiting?<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><b>Part 2: Outward Focus<\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s listen again to the promise in Jeremiah 29:11, but this time, let\u2019s widen our gaze:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c\u2018For I know the plans I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of a young person in your life right now\u2014someone who might be wrestling with fear, instability, or disappointment. Can you picture them?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does it mean for that young person to hear that God has a plan for them\u2014a plan filled with hope and purpose?<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How might you become a living reminder of God\u2019s hope for them? What small act of encouragement, prayer, or presence could reflect God\u2019s heart?<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What would change in the way we minister if we truly believed that God is already shaping a future for every youth we serve?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pause<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><b>Part 3: Wesleyan Covenant Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We end this time together by praying the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let these words be our response of surrender to the God who promises us hope and a future:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am no longer my own, but yours.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put me to doing, put me to suffering.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, praised for you or criticized for you.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let me be full, let me be empty.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let me have all things, let me have nothing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, You are mine, and I am yours.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So be it.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it also be made in heaven.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\n\n<section class=\"y-columned-content white one center  guten-block\" >\r\n\t<div class=\"grid-narrow\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"y-columned-content--column y-color-responsive-text\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button primary\" href=\"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/epray\/\">Return to ePray<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"#top\">Listen to this episode<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome. Our theme is Hope. Allow God to speak to you through this guided prayer&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[106,105],"class_list":["post-2404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-hope","tag-september"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}