Advent is a time of joyful anticipation as we prepare our hearts for the Christmas season. In the weeks leading up to Christ’s birth, Christians around the world pray, repent, and reflect on God’s goodness and promises. Even in the most challenging times, we are reminded of God’s steadfast love for all creation.
Jesus’ birth is a time of hope. As the world faces crises of violence, injustice, and brokenness, only God’s redemptive love can truly bring peace and healing. God works through us as Christians when we do our part, through prayer and action, to love our neighbors near and far. We can trust in God’s promises of restoration for the world.
At Bread for the World, our faith in Christ is the foundation for our hope, story, mission, and values. We endeavor to follow God’s path toward justice and righteousness in the world as we advocate for the more than 700 million people experiencing hunger around the world every day.
In the U.S., the measure of hunger is food insecurity; an estimated 44 million Americans, including 1 in 5 children, are uncertain of where their next meal will come from. And over 40 million people around the world are facing emergency levels of hunger, meaning they are on the brink of famine. This number has doubled since 2020.
In the last year, outbreaks of violence and conflict, extreme weather patterns, and inflation around the world have impeded access to nutritious food for groups already disproportionately impacted by hunger.
We are committed to urging those in power to do everything possible to pursue a world where everyone has food security.
Our work is grounded in the hope that Christ’s arrival brings and is inspired by God’s redemptive promises of restoration. But we also find strength in the knowledge that the Lord so loved the world that the Lord blessed us with a savior, the Prince of Peace.
Join Bread for the World in observing this Advent season as we reflect on the coming of Christ — Immanuel, God with us, the one who brings hope, peace, joy, and love to our broken world.
Here are Bread for the World’s 2023 weekly Advent themes:
Advent 1: “Hope”
Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Reflection: We name the brokenness of the world we live in, and we ask God to restore creation — to shine God’s face upon the world so that God’s righteousness and justice might reign. We long for signs of hope for restoration.
Advent 2: “Peace”
Scripture: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Reflection: We find peace in remembering the ways that God has been a force for justice and righteousness in the past, even as we seek God’s justice and righteousness in our future. We long for steadfast love and faithfulness to meet and for righteousness and peace to kiss each other. As we reflect on the Christ child piercing the darkness of this world, we ask God to restore unto us light and peace.
Advent 3: “Joy”
Scripture: Psalm 126
Reflection: We rejoice while we hold the challenges faced by millions of people around the world to secure enough food for themselves and their families. We trust that our faithful actions, following God’s path of righteousness, can make a difference. Those who sow with tears will reap with shouts of joy!
Advent 4: “Love”
Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Reflection: God’s steadfast love and promises for every generation hold us as we face a world so troubled by hunger and poverty. We continue to seek God’s righteousness and justice even when we do not understand where God is. We cry, “Come, Lord Jesus, come.”
Download Bread for the World’s free Advent devotional for in-depth scriptures, reflections, and prayers.
Bread for the World
Advent Devotional
Christ’s presence in the world is the greatest sign of a brighter future. As Christians, we can come together to spread hope, joy, love, and peace in Jesus’ name while working to end hunger in our time. Bread for the World is committed to pursuing a world without hunger, and we hope you will continue to support our efforts by speaking up, praying, and giving. May Christ’s light shine in us as we work for a world free from hunger.
