More of a comfortable friendship than a journey, my relationship with my One Word, Hope, took me to new levels through a sensory experience involving all five senses this month. More than any recent “One Word”, my connectedness with this year’s word friend has blossomed like a true friendship.
Hope threads the comfort of the eternal love of God into the minutiae of our days wrapping us fully in the experience of its beauty in a sensory way.
Just past the half-way mark in my One Word journey, Hope lessons abound, speaking deeply into my life. I created a special page on my blog where all my Hope posts live, please take the time to acquaint yourself with the wonders of my journey with this magnificent word.
Experiencing Hope Through Sight
Though the word “Hope” is easily seen in many venues and word art, my favorite way of experiencing Hope through sight is through pictures. Hope speaks powerfully through visuals. No other month brought such Joy in walking with Hope than May. Take some time to view what Hope looks like HERE.
But on a daily basis Hope peeks at me through my business and personal cell phone screen savers, and my awesome Hope Journal. The screen savers have been literal life savers on especially hard days, along with scripture, quotes, hymns and poetry in my Hope Journal.
The crowning jewel? Who has not experienced Hope while watching the morning sunrise?
Experiencing Hope Through Sound
Listening to my favorite Hope verses or praise songs in a playlist brings comfort at the end of my days, breathing Hope into a hard day through remembering God’s faithfulness, as well as reminding me of the Hope of God’s unfailing love which greets me every morning.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.”
But another tremendous blessing of experiencing Hope through sound came in the seven-week series on Finding Hope my church recently concluded. Walking hand in hand with Jesus our blessed Hope, we heard how to find Hope in a broken and troubled world, in the midst of personal suffering, how Christ changes our view of our circumstances, how to overcome hopelessness, and a lingering look at our eternal Hope and assurance of heaven.
Experiencing Hope Through Smell
Certainly true, but some words are just hard to “smell”. But Hope? I find its fragrance after a summer rain, in the morning dew, and that unmistakable intoxicating scent of a newborn.
How about bread baking? While I find the whole process of making bread hope-filled, truly the aroma of a good loaf baking fills me with Hope!
Then of course there is the treasure of my essential oil signature scent I wear every day. It just tickles me to see that label and gently, add the beautiful scent of Hope to my days.
Experiencing Hope Through Touch
How do you hold Hope? Hope is held in every hug and tender caress of love. In the velvet softness of new flower buds, and the thin, worn pages of my bible.
Even more wonderful was the reminder of Jesus Christ as my living Hope, as I sat cradling the communion bread in my hand recently. I sat holding the symbol of His death which purchased my redemption, touching the Hope which set me free.
Experiencing Hope Through Taste
This may seem a bit abstract, but I have tasted Hope. How? I have tasted the God of Hope.
Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. The bible is filled with metaphors involving food with the Word of God.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3)
Tasting God through complete trust in His perfect redemption, results in Joy and Peace as we abound in the secure Hope, (Romans 15:13) knowing we were saved by Hope in the person of God the Son. (Romans 8:24)
A Sensory Experience of Hope
Truly engaging with my One Word friend Hope, through sensory experience this month deepened not only my understanding of Hope, but also my relationship with the God of Hope.
In His infinite kindness God allowed me to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste Hope in every aspect of my daily life. Ultimately weaving Hope into the very fabric of my being.
What a delight to walk through my five senses here with HOPE! This is so beautiful, Donna. I need to be on the active lookout for hope more often. 🙂
Donna, I love how you weaved your one word through sensory experiences.
Visiting today from G&T
Thank you, Paula, it was such a fun experience with Hope!
What a beautiful journey of Hope in the five senses, Donna! We can taste and see that the Lord is good through all that you shared!
Thank you, Lisa, it was such a fun experience!
This has been a hope infusion for my senses! Thank you for taking the time and effort to ponder and share!
Praise God for a Hope infusion today Michele!