Morning Chapel Prayer Playlist
Morning Chapel Prayer Today
Pastor Heather…
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to morning prayer. My name is Heather Sibinski. I’m one of the pastors and associates here at Living Word. So welcome to morning prayer. We’re so glad you joined us.
Hope in these uncertain times…
I just had in my heart this morning to start by just talking about hope. I think in times like these when the world feels really uncertain, it’s important that we anchor ourselves in hope. We remember where our hope comes from.
It doesn’t come from what’s happening in the world.
It doesn’t come from what’s on the news.
It doesn’t come from our situation.
It doesn’t come from what our checkbook balance is… all of these things.
Hope is anchored in Jesus…
Our hope is to be anchored in Jesus and in the truth of who He is. And the truth of what He’s done for us and the truth of those things that He’s made available to us. So I’m just going to talk a little bit about hope, and we are going to get into prayer because there are a lot of things that can be prayed for and should be prayed for today. Alright, well let’s start.
Hope defined…
The definition of hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a person or thing that may help or save someone.” We know who that Person is. “Grounds for believing that something good may happen and a feeling of trust.”
Proverbs 13:12 in the Amplified says…
“Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick. But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. “
I remember there was a time in my life when that scripture resonated so strong in me because I was feeling hopeless. And I’m like, “Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick. Yes, my heart feels sick. I feel like I don’t have hope. So what does that mean, Lord? How do I apply the scripture? Show me the scripture.”
And the Lord said to me, “Well, where is your hope?” Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick. So if we’re putting our hope in a circumstance or a situation… if we’re putting our hope in a thing to come to pass… if we’re putting our hope in when my body is healed… if we’re putting our hope in when my finances are enough… if we’re putting our hope in when that situation is figured out, our hope will be deferred. Because those are situations, right?
But if our hope is anchored in Jesus, if our hope is anchored in His Word, then it will never be deferred and our hearts will not grow sick. Why? Because God is faithful. He always shows up. And so keeping our hope there, does that mean that every day is sunshine and lollipops? No. But it means that when those tough times come, we know where our hope comes from. It doesn’t come from circumstance. It comes from the promises that we have. We are not of this world. We are from above, right? So we are in this world, but we’re not of this world.
We’re not of this world…
So we’re going to be in a world where things are shaking, things are rattling, things might seem scary, but we’re not of this world. We’re of the heavenly realm, right? And so why are we here? We are His hands. We are His feet. We are His mouthpiece. We’re here to create environments. We’re here to speak. We’re here to use the authority He’s given us.
So our hope needs to be in Him, not our circumstances. Now I’m just going to read a few scriptures. Feel free to close your eyes and just let these scriptures wash over you. And then once we get through these scriptures, we’ll go into prayer.
Jeremiah 17:7–8 in the Amplified…
“Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river and it shall not see and fear when heat comes.” There’s some heat that’s coming right now, right? But we are rooted in Him.
“But it’s leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought.” Feels like there’s some drought around us right now. “Nor shall it cease yielding fruit.”
We are rooted in Him. We can be green in times of drought. We can have fruit when it feels like there are not times of plenty. That’s His promise for us.
Hebrews 6:18–20 from the Passion translation…
“So it is impossible for God to lie, for we know that His promise and His vow will never change. And now we have run into His heart to hide ourselves in His faithfulness.”
I love that picture. Hide yourself in His faithfulness right now. If the world seems scary, if things are happening, you hide yourself in His faithfulness.
“This is where we find His strength and comfort, for He empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time, an unshakable hope. We have this certain hope, like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God Himself.”
That’s what hope does. It holds your soul to God. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold and where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone before us. He is now and will forever be our royal priest like Melchizedek. Jesus has gone before us. He has already conquered. He has already taken the keys to hell and to death. And so we have nothing to be afraid of. And He’s given us those tools of authority.
Hebrews 6:10–12, the Passion Translation…
“For God, the faithful one, is not unfair. How can He forget the beautiful work you have done for Him? He remembers the love you demonstrate as you continually serve His beloved ones for the glory of His name. But we long to see you passionately advance until the end and you find your hope fulfilled. So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm but follow the example of those who fully receive what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance. Those who received had strong faith and patient endurance.”
So how do we continue to have strong faith and patient endurance? We must have a hopeful expectation in God.
Psalm 31:24 in the Message Bible…
“Be brave, be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.
Psalm 39:7 in the Amplified…
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in you.
Psalm 130:5 in the Amplified…
“I wait for the Lord. I expectantly wait; in His Word do I hope.
Psalm 119:73–77 in the Message Translation…
“With your very own hands, you formed me. Now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right. Your testing has taught me what’s true and right. Oh, love me and right now, hold me tight just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live. Your revelation is the tune I dance to.”
Romans 5:3–5 in the Message Translation…
“There’s more to come. We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us. And how patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. An alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary. We can’t round up enough containers to hold everything that God has generously poured into our lives through the Holy Spirit.”
That’s so good.
Romans 8:15–17 in the Message Translation…
“This resurrection life you receive from God is not a timid grave tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, ‘What’s next, Papa?’”
I love that. What’s next, Papa?
“God’s spirit touches our spirit and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know that we are going to get what’s coming to us, an unbelievable inheritance. We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him.”
And then you skip down to verse 22…
“All around us, we observe a pregnant creation…” Think of that for a second. We have a pregnant creation. We have a creation right now that is in labor pains. Labor pains… getting ready for Jesus to come back, right? And so we see that. We feel that all around. We see the earth shaking, and we see things happening.
“A pregnant creation, the difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pains. But it’s not only around us, it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We are also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what’s enlarging us, but the longer we wait, the larger we become and the more joyful our expectancy.”
So just like a woman who’s pregnant, she’s growing and she’s feeling those birth pains because something is coming. Something is coming. God is coming. He’s doing things in this earth. And as believers, we are carrying His promises. We are carrying His Word. We are carrying His hope into the world, into the nations, into our communities. We’re pregnant with His hope, with His Word, with His light.
And so as we feel those pains of like, something is coming. We’re about to deliver something. Pray-ers, you know this. When you get that groaning and you’re praying, you’re bringing something into the spiritual realm. You’re delivering something, right?
Romans 12:11–13 in the Message…
“Don’t burn out. Keep yourselves fueled in a flame. Be alert, servants, of the master, cheerfully, expectant. Don’t quit in hard times. Pray all the harder. Help needy Christians. Be inventive in hospitality.”
I like that. Be inventive in hospitality.
1st Corinthians 1:7–9 in the Message…
“Just think, you don’t need a thing. You’ve got it all. All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our master Jesus Christ to arrive on the scene for the finale. He’s on His way. And not only that, but God Himself is right alongside to keep you steady on the track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God who got you started in this spiritual adventure shares with us the life of His Son and our master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
Proverbs 23:17–18 in the Amplified…
“Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is a latter end, a future and a reward. And your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.”
Isaiah 40:31 in the Amplified…
“But those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, they shall change and renew their strength and power.” How many people need to change and renew some strength and power right now? “They shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint or become tired.”
Psalm 27:13–14 in the Passion Translation…
“Yet, I believe with all my heart that I will see again your goodness, Yahweh. In the land of life eternal, here’s what I’ve learned through it all. Don’t give up. Don’t be impatient. Be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting for He will never disappoint you.”
Be brace and courageous…
And I have to tell you, just real quick. I keep hearing this: “be brave and courageous.” I heard it in prayer on Tuesday. I heard it in prayer on Monday. “Be brave and courageous.” I was watching something and there it was. “Be brave and courageous.” And when the Lord highlights something like that, pay attention. Right? Because there’s something. The Holy Spirit knows how to get your attention.
And for me, if there’s something that just continues to be repeated and I keep hearing it… I read that here. I heard that there, I saw that there. I opened up my Bible and it was on that. He’s highlighting something for a reason, right? “Be brave and courageous.”
This is a time for us as Christians to be brave and courageous. So let me encourage you, be brave and courageous. He’ll never disappoint you. If you are feeling fearful, if you are feeling overwhelmed, what are you putting into yourself? Maybe it’s time to turn off the news. Maybe it’s time to not talk to that critical, cynical person that always has the doom and gloom. Right?
And we can still do that and bring our faith. I’m not saying we shut ourselves up and become hermits, right? But I’m just saying, just pay attention to what you’re allowing to enter your heart. It’s really important in times like these that we guard our hearts.
And how does something gain access to our hearts? Through our eye gates and through our ear gates, right? What are we watching? What are we hearing? And then through our mind, what are we meditating on? What thoughts are we allowing to ruminate in our mind? Are we casting down vain thoughts? Are we casting down anything that’s trying to exalt itself above God?
And what could that be?
That could be anything. Anything that is trying to sit on the throne of your heart. Any thought that is more powerful in your mind than the thoughts of God, that needs to come down! Right. That thought needs to come down. And how do you cast it down? You change your thoughts. You speak out the Word and you put the Word in your mouth.
Speaking stops what you’re thinking…
I think they’ve done studies in the past, like you’re thinking of something. You can’t think of one thing and talk about another thing, right? If your mind is on one thing. When you speak, it’s going to change to that thing that you’re talking about. So if your mind is ruminating… “Oh, how are we going to pay the bills? What is becoming of this nation? What’s going to happen in Minnesota? I’m scared that this is going to happen. I’m scared about this. I’m scared that war is coming. I’m scared that…” Whatever. You fill in the blank. “I’m scared that my body’s not healed. I’m scared that…” Okay, if your mind is continuing to roll that thought over and over in your head, put the Word there in its place. And you continue to cast it down.
And some days it might be just a little bit. Other days it might be constant. But the more you do it… what does the Bible say? Think on these things. Things that are lovely, things that are a good report. You have to put those things into your mind and be intentional about thinking them and arresting thoughts, casting down thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God.
Hosea 12:6 in the Amplified…
“Therefore, return to your God. Hold fast to love and mercy to righteousness and justice and wait expectantly for your God continually.
Psalm 62:5–8 in the Passion Translation…
“I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me. Only God is my savior, and He will not fail me. For He alone is my safe place. His wraparound presence always protects me as my champion defender. There is no risk of failure with God, so why would I let worry paralyze me? Even when troubles multiply around me, God’s glory is all around me. His wraparound presence is all I need for the Lord is my savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength. Trust only in God every moment. Tell Him all your troubles and pour out your heart longings to Him. Believe me when I tell you He will help you. Pause in His presence.”
Just think of that. His glory is all around us. He will deliver us. We have nothing to fear.
