HOPE40 - Day 19 - Small Things

Week 4: HOPE IN ACTION

Today's Scripture: Matthew 5:17-19

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"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." ~Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus is very direct in saying that He did not come to discard God’s commandments but to bring them to their fullness. He is the fulfillment of the law, not through rigid rule-keeping, but through love. This is hope in action: living out God’s plan for you with trust, knowing that His commandments lead you to true freedom and joy.

Sometimes, following God's law can feel burdensome, especially when the culture or your circumstances challenge you to compromise. But Jesus reveals that God’s law is not about restriction; it is about transformation. Every act of obedience, even in the small things, aligns you more fully with God’s plan and allows His grace to work in and through you.

Living Hope in Action

Obedience and Trust: When God asks something of you, even if you don’t fully understand, you can trust that His ways are always for your good.
Be Faithful in the Small Things: Jesus says that even the smallest part of the law matters. Hope in action means being faithful in the daily, hidden choices...choosing patience, honesty, and love in ordinary moments.
Lead by Example: Jesus calls you to live His teachings so that others may be drawn to Him. When you choose virtue over convenience, forgiveness over resentment, and faith over fear, you witness to the power of God’s truth.

Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your law...not as a burden, but as a path to freedom. Help me to see Your commandments as a source of life and guidance. Give me the strength to live out my faith in both great and small ways, trusting that my obedience is a step toward deeper union with You. May my actions reflect Your love and truth so that I may be a witness of hope to those around me. Amen

HOPE For Your Health: Full Commitment

Today, we return to a 15-hour fasting window until Saturday. During this time, continue to avoid white flour, sugar, and alcohol until Sunday. This challenge is not just about discipline for a season, but hopefully it is becoming a lifestyle that prioritizes health, intention, and trust in God’s design for your body.

Intermittent fasting teaches you to commit fully, not just when it feels easy, but especially when discomfort arises. Just as you are called to deepen your spiritual life through consistency in prayer, you can apply the same faithfulness to caring for your body. Every time hunger arises, it is an opportunity to reorder desires, grow in patience, and unite your sacrifice with Christ.

Hope in Action: Fully Commit

Plan Ahead: Set yourself up for success by preparing nutrient-dense meals that sustain your energy and focus.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and incorporate fennel tea, a powerful digestive aid recommended by St. Hildegard for its healing properties. Fennel helps ease bloating, supports digestion, and calms the body, making it an excellent addition to your fasting routine.
Shift Your Mindset: Instead of seeing this as a temporary challenge, embrace it as a lifestyle shift. Choose foods and habits that honor your health long-term.

Keep Going

You are not alone in this journey. God has given you the grace and strength to persevere. Keep offering your fasting as an act of hope...hope for greater self-discipline, better health, and a heart that seeks Him above all else.

HOPE For Your Marriage: Prioritization

Jesus teaches us that God’s law is not meant to be a burden but a pathway to faithful love and fulfillment. In marriage, this truth reminds us that love grows when you intentionally prioritize your spouse. Just as Jesus fulfilled the law through His unwavering commitment to the Father’s will, you are called to fulfill your marriage vows by making your relationship with your spouse your first priority after God.

It’s easy to let daily responsibilities, work, or even good things like ministry and parenting take precedence over nurturing your marriage. But when you deprioritize your relationship, you risk weakening the very foundation of your home. Prioritization is an act of hope in action...trusting that by making space for one another, you are building something strong, holy, and lasting.

Hope in Action: Prioritizing Your Spouse

Put Your Spouse First - After God: Just as Jesus placed obedience to the Father above all else, you are called to intentionally place your marriage above the distractions of daily life. Yes, this can be hard with family life in full swing! See the picture for this section! Can you relate?
Be Faithful in the Small Things: A marriage is not built on grand gestures alone but on small, consistent acts of love: an undistracted conversation, a gentle touch, a simple "thank you."
Protect Time Together: Prioritization means creating sacred time for your relationship. Whether through regular date nights, praying together, or simply sitting down to talk, investing in your spouse builds a marriage rooted in love and stability.

Challenge:

What is one way you can intentionally prioritize your spouse today? Choose an action, whether big or small, that demonstrates your commitment and love, and make it a habit. Remember your spouse's love language and get in the habit of "speaking" it.

SHRIMP ASPSRAGUS ORZO

Remember the asparagus? I still have a bunch, so this is on the menu tonight. It's also a great option for Friday. Quick, easy, delicious. I will add extra spinach to the recipe at the end and likely swap the orzo pasta for quinoa. Click on the picture to go to the original recipe at Well Plated.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds large raw shrimp 31 to 35 count, peeled and deveined (use fresh or frozen, thawed shrimp)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound-ish asparagus trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
8 ounces uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta, or quinoa
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 large lemon zest and juice
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, additional for serving if desired
Lemon wedges for serving-makes it pretty!

INSTRUCTIONS

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
Place the shrimp in a small bowl, sprinkle with pepper and salt, and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir in the orzo. Increase the heat to medium high and cook the orzo until it's lightly browned and smells toasty, about 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan so that you loosen any stuck pasta. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let cook 5 minutes. Remove the lid and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan again. Add the asparagus, recover, then continue cooking until the pasta is just becoming tender, about 10 minutes. The pasta will look a little liquidy. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, parsley, and the seasoned shrimp. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan over the top.
Bake the pasta, uncovered, just until the shrimp are cooked through, about 8 – 10 minutes. The shrimp will be pink, fairly firm, and opaque - do not overcook.
Sprinkle with additional chopped parsley and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve immediately.