2016: a Year in Review

2016 has been a hard year for many.

Even our nation as a whole has seemed to "suffer" on so many fronts. In fact, thinking back has been more disheartening for me than productive.

Then, I poured my morning cuppa, opened the last page of my devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest and read  Oswald Chamber's answer. (paraphrase is mine)

Anxiety can easily arise from remembering all the yesterdays but as the year ends, one must once again turn with fervor to all that God has in store for her in the future. I need not let my present enjoyment of God's grace be hampered by the memory of my yesterdays with all its blunders and regrets. (sins)

"...But God is the God of our (my) yesterdays..."
"God's hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience."

Prayer: May God allow my past memories to be an impetus for future spiritual growth as I recall how "insecure"  all of life is, apart from Him. May I not bemoan lost opportunities---remembering "but God," in His love and mercy gave me life in Christ. May I not hastily enter 2017 impulsively or thoughtlessly but may God allow me to let go of my broken, irreversible past.

As  Chambers clearly states it, "Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible future with Him. "

Reviewing 2016 gave me much to ponder.....prior to my "resolve" for 2017.

So, after my review,.....what's my resolve?
Maybe the best resolution is NO resolution---at least no resolution apart from Him.