September 11, 2026
— Mary Porter Gamewell · Source: Her words to her pupil Sarah Wang, in E. D. Hubbard, Under Marching Orders: A Story of Mary Porter Gamewell (1909)
Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Foot-binding was once a shackle that bound both the bodies and minds of Chinese women. Driven by the love of Christ, missionaries saw lives devastated by this cruel custom and proclaimed liberation through the Gospel. Galatians 5:1 reminds us that Christ's salvation is not only a future hope, but also the present authority to break every yoke of slavery. Today, though our lives may not be bound by physical bandages, we may still be tightly gripped by anxiety, worldly judgments, or inner fears. Only by anchoring our lives once again in God's grace can we lay down our burdens, no longer be held by invisible chains, and live out the abundance and freedom that God originally intended for us in our faith.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us according to Your wonderful will and for granting us true freedom that knows no chains through Jesus Christ. Forgive us for so often placing ourselves back under the yoke of fear and worldly pressure. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts, remove all entanglements—both visible and invisible—and heal our once-wounded souls. Grant us courage and strength, not only to stand firm and run joyfully ourselves, but also to bring Your liberating, healing love and light to those around us who are in distress. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!