The Year in Review (Friday Devotional)

 

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

- Psalm 143:5

For various news outlets, entertainment media, websites, and more, today is the last chance for an annual tradition: “the year in review.” Writers hammer out a quick column summarizing what they learned over the year, editors compile lists of their most popular content; even your favorite apps get in the game, with Spotify telling you which songs you listened to the most and Facebook letting you know which of your posts garnered the most feedback. It’s a time for remembering those moments which shaped the year, a time to recall what felt so important then even if it feels like ancient history now.

We do this at a personal level too, whether by flipping through old photos, holding onto family heirlooms, or even just telling stories around the kitchen table. We intuitively understand that the past affects the present and the future, that what has gone by is far from irrelevant to what is and what will be. As William Faulkner famously wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

So as you remember what you did in the last year, I encourage you to also think about what you saw God do. What prayers did you see answered in 2021? How did his Word encourage, convict, counsel, and shape you? How did his church minister to you in times of need?

The wonder of serving a living God is that the stories of his providence aren’t confined to the pages of Scripture—we see him at work in our daily lives. So as you review your year, don’t forget to reflect upon the Lord’s role in it. And by remembering what he has done, may you find your heart prepared for all he has yet to do.