Usually, in-between Christmas Day and New Years, I always tell myself I’m going to schedule some time for personal reflection about the past year. But I find I never get around to it. So today at the BCEC, we spent some time personally and corporately reflecting on our past year. I used these 8 questions as guidelines for thought, and encourage you to make some time to go through them as well:
1. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) how satisfied are you with 2014? Why?
2. What do you want to leave behind in 2014?
3. What do you want to bring into 2015?
4. How well did you take care of your body, mind and soul?What’s something you’re thankful for in 2014?
5. How would you have managed your time differently?
6. What was the biggest risk you took this year? Would you do it again?
7. Knowing what you know now, if you could write a letter to yourself that would travel back in time so that you would receive exactly one year ago, what advice would you give yourself?
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As I’ve gotten older, and each year goes by, I’ve come to realise, that time is our most precious commodity. And so question number 5, “How would you have managed your time differently?” helps me reflect on what my priorities were this past year, and what changes might I need to make for the year ahead. Did I spend it frivolously, or did I invest that time into something worthwhile? Could I have made better use of my time, both in my relationship with God, and with others? But perhaps the bigger question is why didn’t I utilise my time better, and how will that be different in 2015.
I’m starting to realise, that living a life of faith in God, means an acknowledgement that the life I’ve been given, is an offering to him. And that the time he’s given me here on earth is best lived given to Him. Before I went back into full time ministry (I took at year and half hiatus between my COCM internship, and rejoining the mission full-time), God convicted me with this verse:
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
That verse immediately challenged to me live life to the max — for Christ. That living by faith meant being not afraid of failure, or persecution, or foolishness by worldly standards, but to take every opportunity to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. To serve my brother and proclaim Christ in all circumstances, in word and in deed.
Complacency has gotten in the way of a faith-full life.
May 2015 be full of faith, hope and love, inspired and given by our Lord Jesus Christ.