Advent Devotional

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About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!

Advent Devotional December 12, 2019

Scripture

Psalm 62

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; 
from him comes my salvation. 
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

3 How long will you assail a person, 
will you batter your victim, all of you, 
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 
4 Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. 
They take pleasure in falsehood; 
they bless with their mouths, 
but inwardly they curse.

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, 
for my hope is from him. 
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; 
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; 
pour out your heart before him; 
God is a refuge for us.

9 Those of low estate are but a breath, 
those of high estate are a delusion; 
in the balances they go up; 
they are together lighter than a breath. 
10 Put no confidence in extortion, 
and set no vain hopes on robbery; 
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken; 
twice have I heard this: 
that power belongs to God, 
12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. 
For you repay to all 
according to their work.

Devotional

The Rev. Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy ’13

I am a fixer by nature. A significant part of the ministry God has entrusted to me is to help others, to make sure they are secure spiritually, emotionally, and financially. Over time I have come to realize that my desire or need to fix things for others often gets ahead of what God is doing. I’ve learned that it is better to wait on God than to wish later that I had.

Our ability to wait on God and lean not to our own understanding is difficult, especially when there are so many issues in the world that we are moved to address, try to mitigate, or hope to fix—inequities, injustices, inequalities, maltreatment of people based on a wide range of unjustified factors. Yet the psalmist reminds us to wait in silence and assurance, for God is our rock, salvation, and refuge.

Waiting on God is not a passive act, but a peaceful stillness that manifests when we yield our fears, anxieties, and insecurities to God out of faithful trust and hope-filled living. In the letter to the Philippians Paul writes: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7). During this season of Advent, may our minds, hearts, and spirits be at peace as we wait with assurance for Jesus Christ, the ultimate “fixer” of all things, and trust that God has not relinquished control of this world, but is working everything out for our ultimate good. As the psalmist concludes, so shall we: “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.”

Prayer

Gracious, loving, and all-powerful God, quiet our hearts, increase our faith, and help us always to look to you, the one and only God, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond anything we might imagine and think. Although the world seems out of control, teach us to wait on you, our hope, and to trust you with every aspect of our individual and corporate lives. For you are our rock, our salvation, and our refuge. Amen.

Advent Devotional December 12, 2019

Scripture

Psalm 62

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; 
from him comes my salvation. 
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

3 How long will you assail a person, 
will you batter your victim, all of you, 
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 
4 Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. 
They take pleasure in falsehood; 
they bless with their mouths, 
but inwardly they curse.

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, 
for my hope is from him. 
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; 
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; 
pour out your heart before him; 
God is a refuge for us.

9 Those of low estate are but a breath, 
those of high estate are a delusion; 
in the balances they go up; 
they are together lighter than a breath. 
10 Put no confidence in extortion, 
and set no vain hopes on robbery; 
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken; 
twice have I heard this: 
that power belongs to God, 
12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. 
For you repay to all 
according to their work.

Devotional

The Rev. Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy ’13

I am a fixer by nature. A significant part of the ministry God has entrusted to me is to help others, to make sure they are secure spiritually, emotionally, and financially. Over time I have come to realize that my desire or need to fix things for others often gets ahead of what God is doing. I’ve learned that it is better to wait on God than to wish later that I had.

Our ability to wait on God and lean not to our own understanding is difficult, especially when there are so many issues in the world that we are moved to address, try to mitigate, or hope to fix—inequities, injustices, inequalities, maltreatment of people based on a wide range of unjustified factors. Yet the psalmist reminds us to wait in silence and assurance, for God is our rock, salvation, and refuge.

Waiting on God is not a passive act, but a peaceful stillness that manifests when we yield our fears, anxieties, and insecurities to God out of faithful trust and hope-filled living. In the letter to the Philippians Paul writes: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7). During this season of Advent, may our minds, hearts, and spirits be at peace as we wait with assurance for Jesus Christ, the ultimate “fixer” of all things, and trust that God has not relinquished control of this world, but is working everything out for our ultimate good. As the psalmist concludes, so shall we: “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.”

Prayer

Gracious, loving, and all-powerful God, quiet our hearts, increase our faith, and help us always to look to you, the one and only God, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond anything we might imagine and think. Although the world seems out of control, teach us to wait on you, our hope, and to trust you with every aspect of our individual and corporate lives. For you are our rock, our salvation, and our refuge. Amen.

About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Become a Student

Certificate Programs

Special Programs

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Events

The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.

Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with PTS

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Church Planting Initiative (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!