- Article: Reflections
Article: Reflections
The end of the year marks for us the turning of the page as we finish the old year and look forward with great expectation towards the new. Often time there can be so much hustle and bustle around a season like Christmas that we forget to reflect on the year that has passed.
I believe that a time like this is not just a time of celebration but also a time of reflection: looking at the events that happened in our lives over the past year and deciding how those events are going to affect our destiny. Trying to begin a new year without first reflecting and being educated on the old, is like trying to read chapter two in a book without first understanding chapter one. We must begin to learn from the year gone in order for us to progress in the year to come.
A true reflection
But what do we really mean when we talk about reflection? Well a true reflection can be daunting because it's a time for us to face ourselves, to see who we really are.
As you begin to reflect, the past year becomes your mirror and you are looking at yourself in that mirror. A true reflection will show you how you handled certain situations, your mistakes, your faults and areas of your character that need real work.
As 2003 was our 'Year of Action', you may be shocked to see how you have progressed spiritually, economically, or you may have seen your emotions healed and self-confidence restored.
How did you reflect?
Today many social psychologists would probably confess that we as human beings still have a slight fascination with mirrors. This might be because we spend so much time looking at everyone seeing everyone else and thereby seeing flaws on others. When we walk pass something that shows us our own reflection we can't help but stop and check for any faults. Of course, a crease in a garment, a crooked tie, even the ladies checking their hair (for the dreaded roots or re-growth!!) are all things people do for the external, yet there is a more important internal issue of our character that we need to stop and reflect on.
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's Glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit". II Corinthians 3:18 NIV
The chapter mentioned above was written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church in order to give some clarity concerning the freedom we now have through the Spirit. However, as quoted above, verse 18 brings great insight to us today concerning our personal development, as when we reflect we should see the Lord's Glory in our lives. When you reflect over the last year, how much of the Lord's Glory will you see on yourself? Did you respond to the various situations and display the Lord's Glory? Please understand that what you should look for is more and more of Christ displayed on you as you reflect. In verse 18, Paul states that we should be seeing ourselves transformed into Christ's likeness increasingly. Therefore, as we reflect over the year, we should begin to see more and more of his likeness as we reflect on ourselves; this happens through the Holy Spirit. So, the question then is not how much of me do I see, but rather how much of the Spirit do I see when I reflect on this year? Did I allow myself to react to the situation, or did I allow the Spirit to handle the situation through me?
2004! Year of Increase
2004 is The Tabernacle's "Year of Increase". Let us begin the New Year by focusing on increasing the display of the Lord's Glory in our lives. How can we do that? Simply by allowing the Holy Spirit into our decision-making, our responses to situations and in every area of our lives, until as we reflect on ourselves, we can only see his Glory.