Reflecting on the right things always brings a sense of peace and tranquility. If we are going to fill our minds up with something let it be thoughts that have substance. I am sure that you will agree with me that our testimonies have substance. Reflecting on the awesome things that God has done in our lives is a great faith builder.
Trials come and go but, nothing can take our testimonies away from us. Testimonies are the spiritual glue that binds the truth of God’s love and faithfulness with tangible evidence of His saving power. When we can look back at difficult times in our lives and see where those things are no longer issues then we will not deny the fact that there is no problem too hard for Him to handle. Our experiences of triumph over difficulties reassure us that our problems are no match for the omnipotent God that we serve.
Our testimonies not only build our own faith but, have the power to encourage and deliver others. Rev 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” Our God is God! He is a mighty deliverer and He will show Himself strong in the midst of our trials. The end result is that we have undeniable proof that He will bring us through every test. What a mighty God we serve!
Reflections
1. Take the time to reflect on ten things that God has turned around for you. Let the Lord know how grateful you are for His love, understanding, compassion, and faithfulness.
2. Think about some people who would benefit from hearing about how God has shown Himself strong in various situations in your life and share your story with them.
3. Complete the following sentence:
Regardless of my circumstances God will always ____________________________.
God Bless,
Minister Kimberly L. Smith
Every year thousands of people make new year’s resolutions. Many people start off with good intentions but, due to inconsistency usually end up not fulfilling what they set out to do. I would like to suggest something that’s not a new year’s resolution but, important to consider incorporating into your life. Reflection, preparation, and expectation are 3 things that we must do as we enter into the new season.
Reflection: Think about different things that occurred in your life from January 2014 until now. Do you see where you’ve grown in some areas? Conquered some challenges? Take the time to praise God again for every good thing that comes to mind. We are here today because of His grace.
Preparation: as we are quickly approaching 2015 I’m sure that there are some areas in your life where you would like to see advancement. Some of these areas could deal with spirituality, finances, health, business, education, relationships, etc. Write your specific areas down and make a concrete plan towards fulfilling them. Even if you have to take small steps towards reaching your goals just take the step; you’ll be glad that you moved and are seeing progress. By all means ask the Lord to help you in this process. He wants you to succeed.
Expectation: now that you have reflected on the things that God has brought you through in 2014 and prepared to see advancement in your life, it is time to expect to see greatness! Expect to see change for the better. Expect to see improvement in your life by this time next year. Ask the Lord for a spirit of expectation. Thank Him for every bit of progress that you see. Remember, He has great things in store for you.
Reflections
- What are some of your testimonies that occurred this year?
- What are 3 areas that you are committed to working on consistently? Don’t get stuck here, if 3 are too many to commit to at one time then work on one or two and once you’ve conquered those move on to the next one. You can do it!!
We often share expressions of thanks through cards and letters to people who have made a significant difference in our lives. Because of the Faithful God that we serve, His word, and Him being with us throughout life’s experiences, we have a multitude of things for which we can give thanks. This is why it would be so fitting to write a special letter of thanksgiving to God.
The letter will include the date and your salutation ie., Heavenly Father, Papa, Dear Lord, etc. In the body of the letter write what the Lord means to you. Be sure to incorporate some specific things that you are grateful for; this could include the past, present, and/or future. Close your letter with confirming words of your faith and trust in God. For instance, what you will do and why, “Lord, I will continue to praise because You are everything to me.” You can also add some additional words of thanks such as, “Thank You for Your unfailing love for me.” A suggestion for your signature is to write something like, “Love, your daughter/son and your name.”
Don’t worry about the length of your letter or if it’s grammatically correct. Remember, you are writing it to your Heavenly Father and He just wants to hear what’s on your heart. He loves for us to communicate with Him.
When you are finished read your letter to the Lord. He will be so pleased to receive your sincere heartfelt expression of gratitude. God never leaves us out when we bless Him. He is so gracious and loving that He blesses us in return. Acknowledge the goodness that you feel out of fellowshipping with the Lord in this manner and thank Him for it.
Reflections
1) How did you feel while you were writing your letter to the Lord?
2) Were you able to feel the Lord’s presence or a strong since of His peace while you were reading your letter to Him?
- Do you think you will write any more letters to the Lord?
God Bless,
Minister Kimberly L. Smith
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