In our first post on Thoughts on the New Year the focused was on what is ahead. We wrote about using your 24 hours a day in the year 2024. In this post we want to take a look at what is behind us. In order to create a better future, you must deal properly with your past.
The past can be a burden; it can even be the very hinderance to a brighter future. Resentful people will forever live in the past by their refusal to forgive and let go. But the past can also be a powerful instructor, if we choose to learn and grow—and where things went wrong, correct the mistakes. Resentful people will blame others and remain stuck in their bad situation. Humble people can forgive, learn, cut their losses and accept responsibility. This enables us to have a hopeful and positive outlook on life, that despite what went wrong, things don’t have to remain this way. Change is possible, and good choices is the key to constructive change. This way, you may look back and not think how hard it was, but how well you did and how strong you were.
Nurture the Seeds of God’s Promises
Whatever the past has brought to you, whatever went wrong, there is a way to turn things around—by committing your ways to the Lord. No matter what threat by evildoers or bad circumstances may hang over you, God will bring His purpose to pass as you trust Him (see Psalm 37:1–5). It will require patience (v 7) and might have occasional setbacks (v 24), but God will let the meek inherit the earth and delight themselves in abundance of peace (v 11). In whatever you are going through, nurture the seeds of God’s promises for you and your future. God has good plans—plans of peace and prosperity (Jeremiah 29:11). He intends no harm; He protects us from evil (Psalm 91:10). God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of light (James 1:17). Therefore, trust Him. He is trustworthy.
When we look back at 2023 and beyond, forgive what was painful and forget what went wrong. But hold on to what was good, beautiful and encouraging. Remember the good times and learn from the lessons in the past. Enter the future wiser by what the past taught you. Above all, nurture what God has said and done. Nurture the seeds of God’s promises. These seeds will flourish at the right time. Wait patiently on Him, but don’t be passive or lazy. Water the seed, remove the weed, and rejoice in what can be.
‘Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer’ (Romans 12:12)
Combining these three dimensions of spiritual life is powerful: there’s power in rejoicing in the hope we have. Hold on to hope; don’t let go. Enduring tribulation with patience makes the suffering bearable. Impatience in suffering or hardship will kill hope as we become resentful and bitter. Impatience will abort God’s seed and risk destroying His destiny on our lives. Instead, pray—be devoted to prayer! By prayer and faith, you are nurturing the seeds of God’s promises. Flowers and vegetables develop from seeds. Faith is like a seed—plant it, nurture it, and keep hope alive for its fruit to prosper. God is faithful.
When you look back, how do you feel about your past? Resentful or grateful? Or, perhaps, a bit of both? Gratitude is the soil in which the seeds of God’s promises will flourish. Resentment and bitterness are the weed that will kill the plant of God’s purpose. Resentful people have lost hope and all they have left is their revenge. They take it as sweet, but its a bitter poison that pollutes their own well. Stay away from toxic people. There is a root of bitterness in them that spreads to those close by; they become godless and despise what is precious (Hebrews 12:15–17). Instead, water the seed, protect the plant and root out the weed. Allow God to work in you so you can pursue peace and holiness (12:1–14).
Looking into the Mirror of His Word
The same biblical author who encourages us to go through trials and difficulties with courage and a positive outlook (James 1:2ff), also instructs us to gain wisdom from God so we can handle the burden we carry in the best possible way (1:5–6). Remember, ‘it’s not the burden, but the way you carry it.’ Make sure you handle life and its burdens the right way. Sometimes we can’t choose our burden, but we can always choose the way we carry it. We often can’t avoid trouble, but we can choose how we face it. It’s challenging to go into a hostile environment, but good preparation and wisdom in the midst of challenges helps greatly. After all, we should get out better and wiser. As Franklin Roosevelt said, ‘A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.’ Challenges train us to become skilful.
We should look back and see not only what we faced, but that we were strong enough to deal with it, even though we may often feel inadequate. This is part of the journey. The poets of the British band Oasis sung it spot on: ‘don’t look back in anger.’ Anger is destructive (James 1:20). Famous psychologists warn of the dangers of resentment. The Bible offers us freedom through forgiveness. Reflecting on the past with the right attitude can have tremendously positive results. May such reflection bring you renewal.
The same biblical author who instructs us to face trials with God’s wisdom and endurance, also tells us to ‘look into the mirror.’ What mirror? The mirror of God’s Word. The brilliant Epistle of James is a powerfully practical piece of literature. ‘Faith without works is dead’ (2:26)—period! Your faith is useless unless there are corresponding works to show it. We show our faith by our works (2:18). Therefore, the apostle encourages us to be ‘doers of the word, and not hearers only’ (1:22a). Why? Because there is deception in only knowingthings but not doing them (1:22b), because we may think we are doing it because we know it, but are actually not doing it. This is dangerous because deception is dangerous.
Looking into the perfect law of liberty—reading, studying and understanding God’s Word—is the right way (1:25). But being a forgetful hearer is useless, like a man looking at himself in a mirror and walking away forgetting what he saw (1:23–24). The point of looking at the mirror is to see things. The point of reading the Word of God is to remember things and apply the truth that sets us free. The perfect Law of liberty should make us walk in the rewarding path of freedom. The major issues James addressed in this context were control of the tongue (1:26), caring for the vulnerable of society and living for God undefiled of the world and its corruption (1:27). Our speech, our actions and our purity all reflect our hearts.
Reflection and Renewal
Not being conformed to this world, but having a renewed mind according to the will, word and purpose of God, is true worship and fruit of our devotion to God (Romans 12:1–2). The faith community should reflect the God they believe in. His standards are often so different from those in a sinful, corrupt society. The apostle called on the early believers to not only be saved by faith in Christ, but also be saved from the perversity and corruption of their generation (Acts 2:22–40). We must remain undefiled, as James stated. We should perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). As we read the word of God and dedicate time to worship and prayer with reflection, we will be renewed and revived. God’s Spirit will work as we humbly relate to God and seek His life-changing power.
The renewed mind is also able to understand God and His will, so that we can live a life pleasing to Him. The unrenewed mind cannot understand God. The sinful mind cannot please God (Romans 8:7–8). We need to learn to live in the renewal of God’s Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit (1–4)—thus we shall have life and peace (v 6). God empowers us to live the way He wants us to live. He doesn’t burden us with His commandments and lets us figure it out all by ourselves. Rather, by His Spirit He enlightens and empower us to keep His Word and live according to His will. As we live with a renewed mind, we gain a new perspective on life and see and understand reality through God’s eyes. This is life-transforming.
The honest look into the mirror of His word is powerful: it brings renewal through reflection. It might be scary, as we also need to allow God’s Word to confront things that are not good. But this should not be evaluated as negative. It’s like going to a car mechanic for him to check your car. The purpose is not to tell you what’s wrong with your car and how bad it is, but rather to find out what needs to be fixed in order to make it work again. God doesn’t want to condemn us; He wants to save us. Part of that salvation is a life free from the destructive power of sin. That’s why we need to be humble and teachable. The implanted seed of God’s word must be received with humility and treasured as precious as it saves us from the destruction of sin and wickedness (James 1:21). This is the way to be ‘doers of the word’ (v 23). We learn what God’s word says and act on it. This way, we shall be saved from the storms of life (Matthew 7:24–27) and not be deceived as ‘hearers only’ with a useless faith that brings no results and doesn’t work.
The point of looking into the mirror of God’s word is to learn the truth that sets us free and nurture the seeds of His promises. The purpose of looking into the mirror is not to ask, ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’ and look for some self-centred beauty affirmation in a narcissist manner. How quickly that queen turned into a witch when there was someone more beautiful than her. Life is not a beauty contest! Life is about living the way God intended and being useful to others. Life is about easing the suffering of others and taking up responsibility to make the world a better place. Looking into the mirror of God’s Word renews us through reflection and empowers us for action.
May reflection lead to renewal and may that renewal lead to God-pleasing action in the suffering world around us. Make 2024 an action-filled year: purposeful action according to God’s will. I don’t mean being busy with all sorts—often, we are too busy! We need to step back, reflect on life and have our strength renewed so as to act in a wise and effective manner. You should also have the courage not to do certain things and not to listen to certain people. Guard your heart. Be wise and decisive in your decisions. You don’t have to please everyone, but you should make pleasing God a priority.
May reflection lead to renewal.
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