The lectionary readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent are 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:1-14, John 9:1-13, 28-38, and Psalm 23, which is one of the Bible's most famous psalms. Since I do not intend to include Psalm 23 in this Sunday’s sermon, I decided to use it for this morning’s devotional.

As I am sure most of you already know, Psalm 23 is King David’s personal testimony. Each verse reveals a truth about the type of relationship David had with the Lord, and the kind of relationship we can also have with Him. The testimony in Psalm 23 creates a vivid word picture, helping us better understand Him as our Great Shepherd. Not only does it clarify what it means for God to be our Shepherd, but it also shows how our relationship with Him can be transformed through meditating on these truths. To keep this devotional brief, I will share five short statements about David’s testimony of the Lord that you can use to enhance your own study.

…“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” testifies to God’s sufficiency.
…“He makes me lie down… He leads me beside still waters…” testifies to God’s satisfaction.
…“He restores my soul… He leads me in paths…” testifies to God’s sovereignty.
…“Even though I walk through the valley… I will fear no evil…” testifies to God’s security.
…“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me… I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” testifies to God’s steadfastness.

Once again, with these thoughts in mind, let us pray: Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen!

To keep our religion pure and acceptable, God wants us to keep a tight rein on our words. As James jarringly said: “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself.” I don’t know about you, but I find this really difficult. I think about it, work on it, and strive daily to control my mouth, yet inevitably I catch myself saying something I shouldn’t or failing to say what I should.

Furthermore, James emphasized that true religion in God’s eyes involves “caring for orphans and widows in their distress and avoiding worldly corruption.” Once again, I find myself coming up short here. You might wonder how, and I respond by redefining James’ call, such as qualifying which distressed orphans and widows and what worldly corruption. However, when I read James 1:27 alongside Jesus’ message in Matthew 25:31-40, his intent becomes quite clear. By caring for the orphans and widows who cross our paths, we not only serve them as if serving the Lord Himself but also guard ourselves from the corrupt influences of the world. Truly, authentic and sincere religion includes mindful speech and sacrificial service to those in need, which are expressions of Christ’s love working through us.

With this reflection in mind, may we sincerely pray the collect for Sunday: O Lord, our heavenly Father, keep your household the Church continually in your true religion, that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace may always be defended by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s peace be with you!

Matthew and Mark employed the ancient Greek term "metamorphosis" (meaning "to change or transform") to depict Jesus’ transfiguration. This word appears only four times in the New Testament: in these two gospel accounts of the transfiguration and in Paul’s letters to the Romans and Corinthians (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18), with a key difference. The gospel writers used it to describe Jesus’ transfiguration, whereas Paul applied it to the Christian's transformation from worldly likeness to Christlikeness.

Why might someone embrace such a radical transformation? There are two main reasons. First, God’s explicit desire for us is to become like Christ, which requires radical transformation. Second, as we grow to resemble Jesus, we reveal God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 8:29; 12:2).

The transfiguration of Jesus foreshadows his resurrection and our future resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6). Until that day, may we continue to be transformed into His image as we await a future that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Therefore, let us pray: O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul acknowledged that everyone faces temptation, but God offers a way out of every one of them (1 Corinthians 10:13). While I know God’s grace is sufficient in every situation, my stubborn flesh still gets in the way. Despite my desire to walk in the Spirit and follow God's good plans, my flesh tends to act selfishly, leading me to do what I don’t want to do, and failing to do what I truly desire.

Then, if my flesh isn’t enough to fight, the world with its temptations and the devil with his tricks come into play. I am flooded with sights, sounds, and lies that try to lure me away from God and His Word. However, God’s Word assures me that no test or temptation “is beyond the course of what others have had to face [including Jesus Himself]. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (10:13, MSG).

If you are experiencing temptation, or know someone who is, remember that God’s grace is enough in all circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9). His Word supports us through every trial (Matthew 4:1-11), and His armor enables us to resist the schemes of the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18).

With these thoughts in mind, let us pray the collect for Sunday: O God, you know that we are set in the midst of many grave dangers, and because of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant that your strength and protection may support us in all dangers and carry us through every temptation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139)

Psalm 139, authored by David, is designated for Sunday worship. It offers a magnificent portrayal of God, the creator of the universe and the Earth on which we live. God, who is infinite, is also intimate. Not only is He aware of every one of the 8.2 billion people living on Earth, He perfectly knows everything about them, even down to the number of hairs on their heads and the words they will say before they say them. Our lives are an open book to Him. Remarkable! How can God be both infinite and so intimately involved with us? David was captivated by this paradox. 

In these verses, David expresses awe and amazement that God knows every intimate detail of his life. While he doesn't give a detailed exposition of God’s greatness, these twenty-four verses serve as his personal testimony. Although the exact reason David wrote this renowned psalm remains unknown, his message is clear: God is all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. David is wonderstruck that God knows everything about him, is always with him, and precisely created him, even ordaining the number of his days before one came to be.

How might we respond to David’s psalm? To me, the most honest response is one of awe and surrender. Awe for God’s infinite wonder and surrender to His intimate command over my life. One of my longtime favorite worship songs captures these feelings well, and I pray it speaks to you, too.

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You. 

In an era of uncertainty, where leaders navigate volatile markets, shifting priorities, and personal doubts, the promise of divine guidance shines brightest. God, our Master Teacher, doesn’t lead us into chaos. He teaches us for our benefit, smoothing the path ahead.

*When we stay teachable it opens our hearts to truly hear.*

God the Holy Spirit is indeed the ultimate Master Teacher for believers not just in 2026, but in every season of life. This truth is rooted deeply in Scripture and echoed throughout Christian teaching.

Jesus Himself promised in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” He is described as the One who guides into all truth (John 16:13), illuminates Scripture, convicts hearts, and imparts divine wisdom beyond human understanding (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).

The Holy Spirit is called the “best teacher” or “greatest teacher” because He doesn’t merely convey information. He brings revelation, making the Word of God alive and transformative in our spirits.

As we step into 2026, leaning on the Holy Spirit as our Master Teacher is more vital than ever. He equips us to discern truth amid chaos, confront challenges with authority, and walk in God’s purposes

*Pause for Reflection:*  

Take a quiet moment today. Ask: Am I truly teachable right now? How might God’s voice redirect me for my benefit? Journal one step of obedience, then trust Him to lead.

In a world flooded with information and artificial “wisdom,” it’s easy to feel confident in our own paths, yet so often, we’re veering off course without realizing it.

I am reminded of Isaiah 46:4: “*I have made you, and I will carry you.” Not you must carry yourself, but I will carry you.*

Every season of our life is held by the same faithful God.

God does not abandon us when we slow down, struggle, or feel diminished. He does not love us less when our hair turns gray or when our hands tremble. In fact, grace shines brightest when we can no longer pretend to be strong. It is then we discover that we have never been the ones holding life together, *He has been carrying us all along and will see us through in 2026*

The God who knit me together in my mother’s womb.The God who sustained me through every storm. This same God will faithfully carry me through 2026! 

During this Advent Season, we have prayed three Collects in which we have asked God to ready us for Christ’s return, to comfort us with His Word as we wait, and to send His ministers to preach repentance and salvation until He returns. In this final Collect of Advent, we appeal to God’s power and strength to help us run the race Christ has set before us. The psalm appointed for this week gives great encouragement to pray this prayer.

Psalm 24 is a psalm of praise written three thousand years ago by King David. No one is absolutely certain what motivated David to write the lofty words that fill this psalm. Some scholars suggest he wrote and commissioned it when the Ark of the Covenant was first brought to Jerusalem, on the anniversary of that event, or at a festival commemorating another unnamed event. Why David wrote and commissioned the psalm may still be a question, but what is not an unsolved mystery is David’s message throughout the psalm, namely that the Lord Almighty, the King of glory, is worthy of praise.

God, the true King of glory, the One who created the earth and everything in it, is worthy of praise on land and sea, in great cities and by earthly kings, even by Israel’s greatest king, David. As he expressed, authentic worship flows from our humble recognition that God is majestic and sovereign, and from the praise and devotion inspired by that recognition. Genuine worship brings profession and response together; it professes God’s unparalleled glory and responds with awe and splendor, ascribing supreme worth and incomparable value to Him. Biblical worship calls worshippers to give themselves to God as we yield ourselves to Him. 

With the great Psalm in mind, we pray the Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

As we wait for the Lord’s return, one way to prepare is through daily repentance. The Hebrew word “shuv” and its related Greek word “metanoia” both mean “repent” or “repentance.” Although both words refer to repentance, they carry different nuances. “Shuv” means to change one’s direction, and “metanoia” means to change one’s mind. Clearly, changing one’s mind involves changing directions, and changing directions involves changing one’s mind.

But what should we actually repent for? I suggest using the confession we pray during Sunday services as a helpful guide: “Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.” I don’t know about you, but as for me, every one of my sins comes from my failure to love God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, and my failure to love my neighbor as myself.

Since Advent is a season to remember Christ’s first coming and prepare for His second, let us continually turn our lives toward Him and steer clear of desires that easily distract and trap us. Therefore, let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

But what exactly are we asking when we pray this Collect? To start, we are asking God to help us become people fully committed to Holy Scripture. But why make such a bold request? Because through Scripture, God reveals Himself. In it, we discover God’s precepts, redemptive love, and covenantal promises. The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of Scripture when he wrote: “There is no other book like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us” (2 Timothy 3:16, MSG). God reveals Himself to us through everything that He has made, but especially through His written and incarnate Word.

Second, when we pray this Collect, we ask God to help us integrate His Word into every part of our lives. Once again, why pray such a bold prayer? Because as we commit ourselves to trusting God’s Word, we must also dedicate ourselves to studying and teaching it. Hearing, listening to, and digesting Scripture are essential for faith because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith in God and our relationship with Him grow as we read, mark, and learn Scripture.

Third, when we pray this collect, we ask Almighty God to fulfill His promise to bring us into eternal life. The New Testament affirms the resurrection of Jesus, and His rising from the dead proves that death does not have the final say over Him or us (1 Corinthians 15). We hold onto this promise with great confidence, and therefore, patiently wait for the Lord Himself, who “will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). 

Because God provides Scripture for revelation and our edification, may we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest its message.

During Advent, we practice various traditions such as hearing Scripture, reading devotionals, lighting candles, listening to sermons, and singing Advent songs, all to remind us of the hope, joy, peace, and love that God has given us in Christ Jesus. Beyond these communal and personal activities, I recommend three resources to enrich your journey through this season: "The Liturgical Home—Advent" by Ashley Tumlin Wallace, "Advent for Everyone" by N.T. Wright, and "On the Incarnation" by St. Athanasius. I trust these will help you make this a meaningful and blessed Advent.

As we start this new Church year, let us confidently pray the opening collect of Advent: “Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”