Begin By Looking Back

The start of a new year is a great chance for us to reflect, remember, renew, and set goals for the new year that is ahead.

Begin By Looking Back

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

Happy New Year!

With Christ, every day is an opportunity for a new start. His mercies are indeed new every single morning. Yet the start of a new year is a great chance for us to reflect, look forward, remember, renew, and set goals for the new year that is ahead. This week, I want to walk us through these different ideas to start off the new year with our eyes focused on Jesus. So many start off the new year by making resolutions. There is nothing wrong with this, but let's be intentional with the start of 2024 by taking this week to first look back and then look forward on what God is doing.

Let's start today by looking back at this past year. I love how David begins Psalm 9: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." We don't look back to dwell on the past. We look back to remember what the Lord has done.

After each of the following questions, take some time to ponder, pray and even write down some thoughts.

How have you seen God at work in your life this year?

Every week, as we begin the youth home group that meets at our apartment, we start by asking a version of this same question: "How have you seen God at work this week?" By asking this question, we help guide the teens to begin looking for the ways God is working all around them. The first week, only a couple students answered, but as the weeks went on, more and more of them had answers because they had been looking. The reality is that God is working all around you and in you, whether you realize it or not. So making a habit of looking for the ways He is working helps you to recognize the activity of God in your daily life. You see, whether you've had a mundane year or an incredibly hectic, jam-packed one, God has been working in you this year. For this first question, don't think about how you've seen him working in others just yet. How has He been moving in your life this year? Is there a way you have seen God teaching you? Shaping you? Calling you to repentance? Growing you in sanctification? How has the Lord comforted you? Encouraged you? Answered your prayers? How have you seen His goodness and faithfulness in your life? Take some time now to reflect on these things.

How have you seen God work in the lives of others around you this year?

Ok, now turn to think about the others in your life. How have you seen God move in them? How have you seen God move in your church? In your family? In your friends?

What from this last year are you thankful for?

Gratitude is so good for your heart. It is an important spiritual discipline that gives us a God-honoring attitude toward life. Gratitude is the greatest medicine for bitterness. As you reflect on all that has happened this year, take time to be thankful. Even if you have had the hardest year of your life, ask God to show you all the things you can be thankful for. Take some time to write down at least three things for which you are thankful, and thank the Lord in prayer.

As you are looking back, you may experience a range of emotions. I encourage you to take the time to celebrate the wonderful things. Celebrate the breakthroughs and the answered prayers and the joys of this past year. Then, allow yourself to grieve that which was difficult this year. It is okay to grieve the ways that this year did not look anything like you thought it would. It is okay to grieve the things that have brought you deep pain. Godly grief is a beautiful thing. Worldly grief traps you in a pit that only looks dark and keeps you there to brood over the hopelessness you feel. Godly grief, on the other hand, aligns with the heart of God in how the brokenness in our world is not God's design. Celebrate and grieve. These are both godly rhythms.

Lord, would you help each of us today as we reflect back on 2023 to recognize the ways that you have been working? Would you also help us celebrate the things we need to celebrate and grieve the things we need to grieve? Please encourage us and grow our faith as we see the ways you have moved in and around us this past year, and help us to be thankful through it all. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.