Sunday, December 22, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

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Reflection

Paul’s exhortation can be deeply sown and still hard to practice. Yet as my pastor wrote, “Faith that is not practiced will get lost in abstraction” (Tom Are Jr., Joy Even on Your Worst Days, p. 118).

George Müller lived in nineteenth-century England. He established five orphanages without fundraising, choosing to rely on prayer alone. It has been estimated that in the course of his endeavor, Müller received more than $4 million and cared for more than 10,000 children. In his journals, Müller meticulously recorded God’s answers to the prayers, supplications, and thanksgiving that undergirded his life’s work. Regarding his purpose, Müller wrote, “I longed to set something before the children of God, whereby they might see that he does not forsake, even in our day, those who rely upon him” (Geroge Müller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Müller Written By Himself, p. 84).

Until Jesus returns, we live in an extended season of advent. In our wait, the author and perfecter of our faith writes. When running the race becomes a struggle, may we squeeze extra mileage out of God’s written replies to the prayers of the saints.

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord. (Psalm 102:15–22 ESV)

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Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness and wondrous works. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Written by Jeanette Chung, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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