Looking back and looking forward.
As we approach the end of another year, it’s often easier to contemplate the losses, the disappointments, where we have failed in our plans for this past year, where we wish we had done better, and the resolutions we wish we’d kept, knowing that we would be in a different place and have different results if only we had followed through. But let’s choose to reflect on the wins instead.
You and I have had extraordinary WINS this year!
Let’s choose to remember His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-26), to thank Him for all that He has done and is presently doing, and rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord, always, I say again, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), a present tense, imperative verb, which means it’s a command to continually and habitually rejoice. This is another remedy for our worry and anxiety.
What has He taught you?
Where has He grown you and your faith?
What have you learned even from suffering, hardship, or failure?
Where have you trusted Him and found Him faithful?
Where have you seen positive life change?
This is a great time to review your journal to be reminded.
And worship Him. With a grateful heart, rejoice in the wins of the year and be spurred on
to trust Him more,
to believe that He is able,
to choose to obey Him,
and to make a fresh start today.
Move forward.
Listening section:
-Lord, remind me of the wins this year. Where do You know that I have grown and maybe I have failed to recognize it? Where have You and I gone deeper? And remind me of how I have seen you at work this year.
-Spend some time praising Him for each and every win. And thank Him in advance for all the many wins to come.
-Dream with Him and allow Him to drop future wins into your heart. What is on His heart for this next year? And how can you make plans to cooperate, to believe, to show up, to be prepared, and be used?
To Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Ephesians 3:20) and is able to keep us from stumbling and to make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24,25).
I pray that you are enjoying this Christmas season and taking the time to reflect and to look ahead, with thanksgiving, and are turning every fear and worry into a prayer, “everything by prayer” (Philippians 4:6, 7).
With love,
Traci Shinnick
Press into these questions with the Lord. You don’t have answers? Good. Hear His. Just put pen to paper and starting with the truth that you have no idea how to answer, write the questions in ways that make sense to you. And just ask Him. Listen to how He answers. I’d love to hear some of your insights. Click on the title and leave a comment or email me at traci@tracishinnick.com. I can also make sure these devotionals go right to your inbox when I post if you’ll email me and let me know that you’d like that or you can subscribe right here: Sign me up!
To download and print a Chronological Bible Reading Plan for 2019, clink on this link: My Favorite Reading Plan This is the one that I have personally used for almost 20 years. It can be folded and used as a bookmark to mark off as you go. The Psalms show up every 7th day and make for an easy catch up day if you find yourself behind, and you can also check off as you read ahead.
