The season of Advent, spanning four weeks leading up to Christmas, is characterized by a sense of expectation and joyful celebration. Each week of Advent centers around a different theme. The second week traditionally focuses on the concept of hope. Hope is all about expecting things to come. Let’s look at Biblical hope and some breath prayers for hope to help you celebrate this season.

What is Hope

Hope is looking towards something that has yet to arrive and expecting it to be better than what it currently is. The Old Testament uses three main Hebrew words for hope: Yahal (יָחַל), meaning to wait for; Qavah (קָוָה), also meaning to wait but with an implied sense of tension in the waiting; and Tikvah (תִּקְוָה), meaning that we are clinging to hope.

Hope is mentioned over 40 times in the Psalms alone. In the Old Testament, hope was linked to God’s covenant promises to Israel. Even in the face of sin and rebellion, God consistently promised redemption and restoration.

Elpis (ἐλπίς) is the Greek word used for hope in the New Testament, and it conveys having confidence and trust while waiting and expecting something. It’s an expectation for what is sure to come.

When Jesus was born, the long-awaited hope of Israel was fulfilled. This is the real message of Christmas. Jesus came and dwelt among us and ultimately fulfilled God’s faithfulness.

The world tells us that hope is a feeling, and it can come and go with our circumstances. Scripture tells us that our hope rests in God’s character and therefore is assured despite our current situation. The Bible tells us the story of God’s faithfulness, and we have hope that God will be faithful over and over again.

Despite our current situation, our decision to hope is based on God’s faithfulness and the reconciliation that Jesus provides.

Hope is an intentional choice. It’s not based on optimism or a sunny disposition. Despite our current situation, our decision to hope is based on God’s faithfulness and the reconciliation that Jesus provides. As Christians, when we celebrate hope, it’s not just about the past fulfillment of prophecy in the birth of Jesus. It’s also about future hope. We look forward to Christ’s return when he will restore all things.

Hope in the Advent season encourages us to:

• Wait with joyful expectation
• Trust in God’s unending faithfulness
• Share the hope of Christ with others

Breath Prayers for Hope

Breath prayers are brief, uncomplicated prayers that can be synchronized with your breathing pattern. They help you stay connected with and honor God any time during the day. Here are some breath prayers based on scripture for this Advent season, focusing on hope.

You can learn more about breath prayers in this blog post.

Inhale: I will always have hope
Exhale: I will praise You more and more

Based on Psalm 71:14: But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more.

Inhale: I wait for You, Lord
Exhale: In Your word, I put my hope

Based on Psalm 130:5-7: I wait for the Lord; I wait and put my hope in his word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance.

Inhale: I praise you
Exhale: my living hope

Based on 1 Peter 1:3-4: ​​Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Inhale: Fill me with Your joy and peace
Exhale: So I may overflow with hope

Based on Romans 15:13: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Inhale: I am justified by your grace
Exhale: I have the hope of eternal life

Based on Titus 3:4-7: But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Inhale: My hope comes from You
Exhale: My soul finds rest in God

Based on Psalm 62:5-6: Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.

In a world that often feels hopeless, we are called to be bearers of hope, pointing others to the peace and redemption found in Christ.

In the second week of Advent, we are called to embrace hope. Despite the uncertainties and difficulties in the world, Advent reminds us to cling to the belief that God is actively working, His promises are reliable, and the return of Christ is assured. In a world that often feels hopeless, we are called to be bearers of hope, pointing others to the peace and redemption found in Christ.

Advent is a season of hope. Hope in the promise of the Messiah, fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Hope in His future return when He will make all things new. Advent reminds us that our hope is not found in earthly circumstances but in the person of Christ. And this hope is unshakable.

Try this YIN practice for a moving meditation that uses these Breath Prayers 🙂