{"id":2440,"date":"2025-12-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2440"},"modified":"2025-11-19T13:57:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T18:57:07","slug":"epray-ep-36-lectio-divina-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2025\/12\/08\/epray-ep-36-lectio-divina-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 36 Lectio Divina: Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/a>\n\n\n\r\n
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ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 36 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

Listen to the episode here, or read the transcript below – and don’t forget to tune in weekly!<\/p>\n

ePray | Episode 36| December 8, 2025
\nLectio Divina: Hope<\/strong>
\nWith Grant Dodson – Southwestern Ontario Youth for Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Lectio Divina: Hope
\nDate: December 8, 2025
\nScripture: Luke 2:8-14<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grant Dodson<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 1: Inward Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome everyone.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m grateful we can pause and spend some time together, in the midst of this month of December, and all it\u2019s busyness, to spend time in and make space for God\u2019s presence in our day today.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Our theme today is Hope\u2014hope that comes not from our circumstances, but from the God who enters our darkness with his light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before we read our Scripture passage for today, let\u2019s take a moment to just be still.<\/span>
\n<\/span>You may want to place your feet flat on the ground\u2026close your eyes and rest\u2026and just simply breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you sit and inhale, I invite you to pray quietly in your heart: \u201cLord Jesus\u2026\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>And as you exhale, pray: \u201c\u2026bring Your hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Do that a few times as we settle in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scripture Reading \u2014 Luke 2:8\u201314 – \u201cAs I read the Scripture, I would invite you to turn your thoughts quietly toward the Lord, asking Him to open your heart and your ears to His voice and His word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.<\/span>
\n<\/span>An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.<\/span>
\n<\/span>But the angel said to them, \u2018Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.<\/span>
\n<\/span>This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.\u2019<\/span>
\n<\/span>Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u2018Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What \u201cnight\u201d or heavy place in your life needs the reminder that God brings his hope, even in the midst of the darkness?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/p>\n

Where have you recently seen even just a small sign or flicker of God\u2019s hope in your life?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2: Outward Focus<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

As we re-read this passage, can you think of one young person in your life and ministry right now who needs to hear this word? Someone who especially needs God\u2019s love, comfort, and his hope right now?<\/span><\/p>\n

Scripture Reading \u2014 Luke 2:8\u201314<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.<\/span>
\n<\/span> An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.<\/span>
\n<\/span> But the angel said to them, \u2018Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.<\/span>
\n<\/span> Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.<\/span>
\n<\/span> This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.\u2019<\/span>
\n<\/span> Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,<\/span>
\n<\/span> \u2018Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who is one young person walking through a \u201cnight season\u201d right now \u2014 a dark season of fear, anxiety, loneliness, hurting, or instability\u2014who needs God\u2019s hope to break through?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/p>\n

What would it look like for God\u2019s peace to rest on this young person this week? Pray specifically for that young person now.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Ask God to make your interactions, your programs, and your presence a place where youth encounter the same hope the shepherds encountered.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/p>\n

As you move into the rest of your day, consider:<\/span>
\n<\/span>How might this word of hope\u2014\u201cDo not be afraid\u2026 I bring GOOD news, GREAT joy, ALL people \u2014change the way you see your work, your youth, and yourself today?<\/span><\/p>\n

Take that with you and let it be an encouragement to you as you serve our loving Heavenly Father.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Part 3: Wesleyan Covenant Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n

And now, as we always do, we will end this time together with the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n<\/span>I am no longer my own, but yours.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Put me to doing, put me to suffering.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, praised for you or criticized for you.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me be full, let me be empty.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me have all things, let me have nothing.<\/span>
\n<\/span>I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.<\/span>
\n<\/span>And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, You are mine, and I am yours.<\/span>
\n<\/span>So be it.<\/span>
\n<\/span>And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it also be made in heaven.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Return to ePray<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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":"

Welcome. Our theme is Unity & Community. Allow God to speak to you through this guided prayer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[112,106],"class_list":["post-2440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-december","tag-hope"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440","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=2440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}