7 Prompts to Reflect on the Last Year - iBelieve Truth - January 15, 2024
"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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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
