As Christmas day comes near, I begin to anticipate the end of the year. Looking at the year past and the year ahead brings excitement. What does the Lord have planned for 2018? I’m not naïve in thinking it will be all cupcakes and roses. (Although, I hope those are involved too.) I realize there will likely be hardships and struggles. But I’m still deliberate about setting goals and dreaming about the year ahead. I heard Christy Wright say “Your dreams should be so big that if God’s not in it, you’ll fail.” I want my dreams to be so big that only God can receive the glory.
When I read Psalm 75:1 I know I can not dream about the year ahead before I first act concerning my past year.
We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.
Psalm 75:1 (ESV)
Before we dream and plan the year ahead, it is of great value to stop and recount God’s wondrous deeds so we may give due thanks to Him! “Wondrous deeds” come from the Hebrew word pala’. It means: “to perform a miracle, marvel, wonder, or supernatural deed, that is, something beyond the human ability to grasp, do, or achieve.” Strong’s #6381
Right now, would you make a physical list of the wondrous deeds God has done in your life? After reviewing your list, take the time to thank Him! Then, be sure to share something from your list with another person!
If you are like me, you may have a few areas where you completely messed up and missed the mark. It’s important that we look at the year as a whole –not just focus on our mess ups, but reflect on how God can use those mess ups as opportunities for our good.
Nothing from our past is greater than our God’s ability to use it for our good!
Copyright©2017, Gloria Stucky
EDITED – Originally written for Immanuel Baptist Church 2016
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash