As this year draws to an end, and a new year dawns, reflection on the past is a mixed blessing. Sometimes it is helpful to look back - celebrate the victories, learn from the defeats, and see the hand of God in our lives over the last 365 days.
Sometimes it's simply discouraging.
Sometimes the times we failed outnumber the times we succeeded. Sometimes we succumbed to temptation more often than we fought and resisted it. Or at least, those are the times that stand out the most boldly and proclaim the loudest our failures of the year. Often we look back and see instances of compromise marching on as far as the eye can see.
We may see more clearly in hindsight, but it's often a painful view.
Even in our failures, however, there is forgiveness; comfort rather than condemnation, lest we should be "overwhelmed with excessive sorrow" (2 Corinthians 2:7). Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God's knowledge (Matthew 10:29): be assured, He knows when we fall. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Instead, He will raise us up again as He lifted Peter from the churning waves when Peter took his eyes from his Lord and began to sink (Matthew 14:25 - 33).
Boldly, we can proclaim: "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me" (Micah 7:8).
With faith, we can pray: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me... Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You... Then my tongue will joyfully sing of You." (verses from Psalm 51)
Confidently, we can draw near to the throne of grace "that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Victoriously, we can give thanks to God, "who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Therefore, sisters, since we have been given confidence by Christ's blood, "let us draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised in faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds..." (Hebrews 10:19 - 24).
It is at this point that reflection may be helpful, to give us tools for our walk with the Lord in the coming year. Referencing the past is only helpful as we plan for the future; in that frame of mind, we may question our past actions, in order that the answers may instruct our future actions.
As we look forward to the year ahead, I think we can ask two questions:
1. What can I take with me?
What lessons has God taught me in the last 12 months, that I will seek to apply in the coming year?
"Finally, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me [Paul], practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:8 - 9).
2. What do I need to leave behind?
What things have I been convicted of, that I need to turn away from? What things are weighing me down and hindering me in my walk?
"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.." (Hebrews 12:1 - 2).
Listen to the passion in Paul's words:
"Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet: but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12 - 14).
We will not achieve perfection in this life, we have failed in the past and will sin in the future, but still we run...
I have one New Year's Resolution this year, and I'd like to share it:
Run to win!
"Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should..." (1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27, NLT).
We do this by leaving behind the weights and entanglements, by fixing our eyes on Christ, and by practicing godliness:
"For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people... And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:16 - 7:1).
In the following verses of 2 Corinthians 7, Paul writes of the sorrow that comes from the conviction of sin. Sorrow over sin is a good thing when it leads to repentance (verses 9 - 10).
As we think back over last year, it's no bad thing to feel sorrow for things we did wrong, as long as that sorrow leads us back to the mercy and forgiveness of God. If so, this sorrow spurs us on to holier living - to earnestness, to indignation over the sin, to fear, to longing, to zeal, to avenging of wrong (verse 11). In short, godly sorrow produces a godly fire of resolution within us!
Have you lowered or dropped your standards at any point?
Have you failed in the love you owe to your brothers in Christ?
Have you reflected poorly on your Savior?
Have you injured your Christian witness?
So have I. So have we all.
But rather than letting your failures condemn you, let that sorrow spur you on to future righteousness!
As you sift through the confetti-like pieces of the past year, let them fall through your fingers and leave them behind, holding onto to only the "true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8) that will equip you for the coming year.
And hold fast to this promise of hope for the future:
In Christ alone,
Brynne
Sometimes it's simply discouraging.
Sometimes the times we failed outnumber the times we succeeded. Sometimes we succumbed to temptation more often than we fought and resisted it. Or at least, those are the times that stand out the most boldly and proclaim the loudest our failures of the year. Often we look back and see instances of compromise marching on as far as the eye can see.
We may see more clearly in hindsight, but it's often a painful view.
Even in our failures, however, there is forgiveness; comfort rather than condemnation, lest we should be "overwhelmed with excessive sorrow" (2 Corinthians 2:7). Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God's knowledge (Matthew 10:29): be assured, He knows when we fall. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Instead, He will raise us up again as He lifted Peter from the churning waves when Peter took his eyes from his Lord and began to sink (Matthew 14:25 - 33).
Boldly, we can proclaim: "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me" (Micah 7:8).
With faith, we can pray: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me... Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You... Then my tongue will joyfully sing of You." (verses from Psalm 51)
Confidently, we can draw near to the throne of grace "that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Victoriously, we can give thanks to God, "who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Therefore, sisters, since we have been given confidence by Christ's blood, "let us draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised in faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds..." (Hebrews 10:19 - 24).
It is at this point that reflection may be helpful, to give us tools for our walk with the Lord in the coming year. Referencing the past is only helpful as we plan for the future; in that frame of mind, we may question our past actions, in order that the answers may instruct our future actions.
As we look forward to the year ahead, I think we can ask two questions:
1. What can I take with me?
What lessons has God taught me in the last 12 months, that I will seek to apply in the coming year?
"Finally, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me [Paul], practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:8 - 9).
2. What do I need to leave behind?
What things have I been convicted of, that I need to turn away from? What things are weighing me down and hindering me in my walk?
"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.." (Hebrews 12:1 - 2).
Listen to the passion in Paul's words:
"Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet: but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12 - 14).
We will not achieve perfection in this life, we have failed in the past and will sin in the future, but still we run...
I have one New Year's Resolution this year, and I'd like to share it:
Run to win!
"Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should..." (1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27, NLT).
We do this by leaving behind the weights and entanglements, by fixing our eyes on Christ, and by practicing godliness:
"For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people... And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:16 - 7:1).
In the following verses of 2 Corinthians 7, Paul writes of the sorrow that comes from the conviction of sin. Sorrow over sin is a good thing when it leads to repentance (verses 9 - 10).
As we think back over last year, it's no bad thing to feel sorrow for things we did wrong, as long as that sorrow leads us back to the mercy and forgiveness of God. If so, this sorrow spurs us on to holier living - to earnestness, to indignation over the sin, to fear, to longing, to zeal, to avenging of wrong (verse 11). In short, godly sorrow produces a godly fire of resolution within us!
Have you lowered or dropped your standards at any point?
Have you failed in the love you owe to your brothers in Christ?
Have you reflected poorly on your Savior?
Have you injured your Christian witness?
So have I. So have we all.
But rather than letting your failures condemn you, let that sorrow spur you on to future righteousness!
As you sift through the confetti-like pieces of the past year, let them fall through your fingers and leave them behind, holding onto to only the "true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8) that will equip you for the coming year.
And hold fast to this promise of hope for the future:
"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22
In Christ alone,
Brynne
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