"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." Psalm 77:11, ESV
At the beginning of the New Year, many of us focus on the future. We dream and set goals. We make plans. And these practices are beautiful, wonderful, and useful. But I wonder in our future planning, do we take time to reflect on the last year
Here are a few prompts to get started:
How did you see God work in your life?
How did you grow?
What did you overcome?
Did you take any risks?
What were the outcomes?
What did you learn?
What would you tell yourself if you could go back to the beginning of last year and give yourself some encouragement?
Many verses in the Bible encourage us to remember and recall the faithfulness of the Lord. And this is so important because we so easily forget.
When the Israelites got hungry and thirsty, and their journey took longer than they expected, they forgot what they had seen God do (Exodus 15:24). They forgot that He supernaturally sent plagues to their enemy nation so that they could be freed from slavery. They forgot that the Egyptians handed over their treasures so they would have provisions for their journey. And they forgot that God split the sea and allowed them to cross on dry land, while the waters swallowed up those that pursued them (Exodus 7-14).
They didn’t stop to reflect, and it caused them to sin against God. The Israelites' example seems motivation enough for us to reflect on what we have seen God do. But the truth is, remembering is as much for God’s glory as it is for our good. When we remember the goodness of God, we praise Him. And when our hearts are full of praise, we experience more intimacy with God. And when we remain in close contact with God’s presence, the Bible says we experience the fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
Reflecting on the goodness of God is one way we bring glory to God because our reflections produce praise. When we remember Him and His deeds, we guard ourselves against the sin that comes from forgetting His faithfulness. And because we were created to do these things, reflecting on the goodness of God ultimately brings us joy.
So as we head into a new year, take some time to journal a few answers to the prompts above. When we have compiled a list, let’s stop to praise God for all the ways we’ve noticed Him at work. And as we look to the future, we can rest assured that He will never fail to be faithful to His people.
Let’s pray:
God,
You created us to bring glory to you. As we live our lives, we have so many opportunities to show others what life looks like with you. Lord, one way we can do this is by intentionally reflecting and bringing to mind the ways we have seen you at work. As these memories surface, Lord, I pray we would praise you and share with others the ways we have seen you at work. We thank you for your faithfulness in the past and we look forward to the ways we will soon reflect on your future faithfulness! Lord, forgive us for how easily we forget. Help us to read your Word and recall your wonders of old. And help us to write down and celebrate the ways you are intimately involved in our lives. May your deeds and your glory influence the plans and goals we set for the new year ahead. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Originally published Monday, 15 January 2024.
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