Sunday, May 12, 2024  

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Today's Hymn
“How Firm a Foundation”

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

from John Rippon’s A Selection of Hymns (1787)
Hymn 463, Glory to God
verse 5

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Reflection

The soul that has relied on Jesus for comfort, unconditional love, and guidance showing it the way to live. The soul that is mine, I will not desert to its foes, such as distractions, false news, temptations, unhealed wounds, blocks, and barriers that endeavor to shake me off course. That soul will I never forsake.

This is a call to allegiance to our true self, the self that knows its connection to God, to our lives, and to all of creation. It is a challenge in this time and age of human history to stay committed and steady in following the soul’s reliance on Jesus for showing us the way.

May it be so.

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Prayer
Thank you, dear Jesus, for showing us how to live as both spirit and matter. May we tend to our soul’s growth with commitment and conviction, choosing paths that lead us closer to following your examples of how to love unconditionally as healers, nonviolent leaders, lovers, and teachers in our own communities. With gratitude and commitment. Amen.

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Written by Susan Schemper, Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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