December 12, 2025 

In Philippians 1:3–11, Paul offers a prayer of gratitude and hope for the believers in Philippi. He reminds them that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Paul’s prayer reveals that spiritual growth is God’s work from start to finish. Advent preparation is more than repentance—it’s a process of nurturing grace. As love increases, discernment deepens, and righteousness flourishes, our lives become living testimonies of Christ’s presence.

Devotional:

Paul’s letter to the Philippians shines with warmth. From a prison cell, he writes words that overflow with gratitude and confidence. “I thank my God every time I remember you,” he says, and in those words, you can almost hear the smile in his voice. These believers weren’t perfect, but Paul saw the work of God in them, growing quietly beneath the surface like roots spreading in fertile soil.

Advent calls us into that same awareness—an honest recognition that while repentance clears the weeds, grace is what makes growth possible. We don’t become holy by sheer determination; we grow because God’s Spirit is at work within us. Paul’s confidence wasn’t in their discipline but in their Lord: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” That’s a promise to hold onto when you feel like you’re not growing fast enough.

Growth rarely happens overnight. Like a seed pushing through soil, grace works slowly but surely, breaking through the hard places and reaching toward the light. Advent is a season for that kind of growth—quiet, patient, unseen but real. The repentance that began in the wilderness now gives way to renewal in the garden of the heart.

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians becomes a pattern for our own preparation: “That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” Grace doesn’t make us passive; it makes us fruitful. When love grows, so does discernment. When righteousness increases, peace follows. The fruit of a repentant heart isn’t guilt—it’s growth.

Sometimes, we resist grace because it feels slow or uncertain. But Advent teaches us to trust the God who never leaves His work unfinished. Every forgiven sin, every softened heart, every renewed act of love is proof that grace is still growing.

So keep tending the soil. Keep turning your heart toward the Light. The One who began this good work in you hasn’t stopped—and He won’t stop until His love shines through every corner of your life.

Action:

Thank God for one area in your life where you’ve seen growth, no matter how small. Then pray for grace to keep growing in love and wisdom.

Prayer:

Faithful God, thank You for the work You’ve begun in me. Forgive my impatience and teach me to trust Your timing. Let Your grace take deeper root each day, bearing fruit that honors You. Fill my heart with love that overflows in wisdom, kindness, and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought for the Day:

Grace doesn’t rush—it grows, and God never stops tending what He plants.

Paul reminds us that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” Advent growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s grace working quietly within, deepening love and shaping our hearts for Christ. Repentance clears the soil; grace makes it bloom. Trust that God is still growing something good in you.