Page 128 - Biblical Counseling II

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this course and learned information that you can take with you into your life. As you
finish this course, I want to leave you with a meditation titled “The Example of Christ” based on Romans
15:13. This meditation comes from Abide, a Christian app that has daily meditations. I listened to this one
this morning and feel like God wants me to share it with you. Find a quiet place where you can read this and
spend some time in prayer:

“Would you describe yourself as hopeful? Romans 15:13 is essentially a prayer and a promise that Paul has
for each of us: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so you will abound in
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Pause a moment and take a deep breath, asking God for that filling. As
you breathe, feel your heart rate settle and your mind clear so you can hear from God today. Notice what
God is called in this verse: The God of Hope. What do you think when you hear that verse? Paul isn’t asking
you to work harder. He’s inviting you to draw closer. When you ask God to fill you with His Spirit, you will
abound in hope. It’s the work of the Spirit in your life that brings that abundance. We all fall short in living
and experiencing the fullness of this passage. But the truth is, we aren’t the focus and certainly not the
solution. Only God can fill you with all peace and believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit. There is our promise.

The word hope has a lot of synonyms. Words like wish, desire, and anticipate. As we continue, breathe
deeply and slowly as you anticipate God, as you desire him, as you wish for his presence. Focus and center on
the God of hope. Posture yourself now, as you continue in this time of peaceful meditation.

[Now with your eyes closed], continue to breathe deeply, hold it, and exhale anything distracting you from
God today. Maybe things that are the opposite of hope. Thoughts of hopelessness, doubt, or fear. Offer your
confession to Him and thank Him for His unending love, grace, mercy, and protection. God is the God of
hope. The Holy Spirit guides us to believe. And Jesus is our example of living a life of joy and peace. Focus and
center on Him. Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, your word reminds us that faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of
what we cannot see. You are the God of Hope. By faith, You fill me with all joy and peace in believing. And
your Son is proof that I will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for hope, joy, peace,
and believing. In this, I give thanks to you by your Spirit. And in the name of your Son, Amen.

Finally, if you have suggestions for topics to add to the course or would like to tell me sections you felt were
especially meaningful, feel free to email me at suremans@mac.com. For example, I ran out of time and
space to include grief, which I plan to add. I will continue to make changes to the course before I (hopefully!)
teach it on campus next summer.

Thank you for all your work! I will be praying for your health and that we all can return to campus soon.

In Him,

Cathi Schuurmann

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