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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC, USA

A Prayer of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today’s devotion features a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life and work we remember today with a national holiday in the United States.

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A street sign reading "Hope St"

Hope as Noun, Verb, and Person

Christian hope is both a verb and a noun: something we do, and something we possess. Even more importantly, our hope is a person. Christian hope is not the same as optimism. It does not deny the reality of sorrow, loss, failure, and suffering. Yet hope is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ and what was accomplished on the cross. It comes from faith that Christ continues to work in this world, and because of Christ’s work, our own work is not in vain. 

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A blue glass with water splashing into it

Hope That is Seen

Hope does not depend on circumstances nor it is the same as optimism. True hope is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, and should be evident to the world, prompting those around us to ask for reasons. Christian hope lived out even when circumstances give little reason for optimism may be one of the most powerful witnesses a Christian has.

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A pregnant woman looking into a crib

Until Christ is Formed in You

The New Testament speaks of our being conformed or transformed to be more like Christ. But in an unusual use of language, Galatians 4:19 talks of Christ being formed in us, almost as a fetus is formed within its mother. If we unpack that language, we understand that God is at work in us, helping us to be more and more like Christ on the inside. This is another case of God’s “inner work” in which we are blessed to participate.

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A pink neon sign that says "breathe"

A Hopeful Perspective on Inner Work

2 Corinthians 4 acknowledges that while our physical bodies are declining, “our inner nature is being renewed day by day” (4:16). God is working in us by the Spirit, preparing us for unimaginable glory in the future. Today, our responsibility and privilege involve joining God in this inner work. We do so with confident hope that, in time, God will complete the good inner work God is already doing in us (Phil 1:6).

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The word "mindfulness" in cursive on a piece of paper

An Invitation to Inner Work

Scripture has much to say about the importance of what’s inside of us. In the Bible, we discover how we can do inner work in a distinctively Christian way, and how this work isn’t just ours, but is something God does in and with us. For now, however, I want to answer the “Should we be doing inner work?” question with a resounding “Yes.” Though God certainly cares about what we do with our lives and the fruit they produce, there’s no question that God cares deeply about our inner lives, what the Bible regularly refers to as our hearts. Through the gospels, Jesus invites us to join him in the inner work he’s already begun to do in us. 

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Two folder icons on a computer screen, one saying "2023" and one, with the cursor hovering over it, "2024"

Next Year’s Outlook (Part 2)

Whatever the plan is by this time a year from now, I am convinced that neither success nor failure, promotion or sending away, new friends or departure, health or sickness, graduation or ordinary mundane repetition can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus _our_ Lord.

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A Christmas wreath surrounding a plaque that says "Happy New Year"

Next Year’s Outlook (Part 1)

You will inevitably have success at some point in an aspect of your life. Those successes should be held in the right perspective in light of Christ’s accomplishment once for all. Also, inevitably a real failure of some sort will occur. No matter how deeply real the failure is, or the lingering effects, they cannot overshadow that there is a courtroom where all your failures are paid for.

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A street sign showing a picture of a hiker walking

The Purpose of Life for Leaders

The De Pree Center produces _Life for Leaders _because we want you to experience the life of God both now and in the future. We’re motivated by what Jesus once said, “The thief comes only to steal and to destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). We want to you grow in your relationship with God through Christ so that you experience abundance in every part of life, including your leadership. Whether you lead in business or education, in arts or government, in profit or non-profit contexts, in church or family, in the studio or the athletic field, we want you to experience God’s life so that your leadership might reflect the values, truths, and love of God. 

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A group of women standing in front of a sign that says "BLOOM"

God’s Work and Your Work

As you begin a new year, it’s good to remember that your work matters to God. Moreover, as you work, God is working in you and through you and with you. Psalm 90 shows that God will help your work to prosper. This is true for all sorts of work, not just that for which you are paid. Yes, God will help you to prosper in your job (or jobs). But God will also join you in the work of parenting, grandparenting, caregiving, volunteering, and serving. If you’re a young, stay-at-home parent, God will bless your work. If you’re a retired third thirder, God has a purpose for your life and can prosper the work you do in retirement. Thus, with the psalm writer, we pray, “O prosper the work of our hands!” 

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Mountains in Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada

God is Still God Today

On the first day of 2024, we don’t know what lies ahead in this year. Sure, we have our expectations and hopes. But we also feel the uncertainties in our lives and in the world around us. We could easily become afraid. But if God is our refuge and strength, and if God is our very present help in trouble, then we will not fear no matter what happens. God is still God today. God is still our Wisdom, our Guide, our Healer, our Protector, our King, and our Savior.

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An empty table with Christmas lights and candles

Word

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

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A Latin American nativity with a group of women presenting gifts to the Baby Jesus

Holy Innocents

What in the world are these anniversaries of martyrdom doing during the holy days after Christmas Day?

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A nativity scene showing an older wise man or shepherd and Baby Jesus

The Intergenerational Implications of Christmas

The Christmas story makes it clear that you matter to God and God’s work no matter how old you are. You aren’t too young for God to use you. Nor are you too old. Moreover, as God uses people of all ages in the divine plan, those people not only contribute individually but also interact intergenerationally. Christmas underscores the intergenerational work of God. 

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Two Christmas ornaments - the larger one is broken

The Benefits of a Not-So-Perfect Christmas

So, if you had a perfect celebration of Christmas yesterday, that’s wonderful—a glimpse of the age to come. But if, like most people, your Christmas wasn’t everything you hoped it would be, then take heart. Jesus came into such a world as yours. Jesus understands. Moreover, through the Spirit, Jesus is present with you today much as he was present in the flesh two millennia ago. Thus, if your Christmas was not what you hoped it would be, or if even if you’re feeling powerfully sad, Jesus gets it. More to the point, _Jesus gets you_.

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