Summary for the Soul

Written by Beverley Rayner

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“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

An effective teacher always ends a lesson with a summary to reinforce the concepts. Often we are eager to look ahead, set goals, and plan for the future. This is good to do, but how often do we take the time to think on what has passed?

A while ago, my pastor’s wife was talking about the changing season– how summer had passed and fall had arrived. She went on to say that at the end of each season it was her habit to reflect on what has happened, and in her prayers she spends some time “wrapping that season up” – like a gift, then presenting everything that transpired during those days back to God with thankfulness.

I liked that idea. I thought about why it’s so important to stop and make a summary of the different seasons that our lives pass through before setting goals. It’s rather like house cleaning for the soul. We can give God any resentful feelings, disappointments and failures. We can ask Him to take them from us and leave us with a clean slate to move forward.

Taking time to reflect on God and His past faithfulness re-affirms our assurance of His continued presence. As we reflect on God’s goodness we begin to overflow with thankfulness. We are renewed. Then, we can offer ourselves again as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1)

I recently read a book by Marie Chapian called The Emancipation of Robert Sadler. It is a powerful true story of a twentieth-century plantation slave. At the close of the book Sadler summarizes his life through Chapian’s words. His wife has passed on and he’s alone with his feelings. All his memories, songs, and melodies have woven themselves into one cry …Jesus.

Summaries are good. If you take inventory of your life today and you find you’ve failed and you’re lacking peace it could be that you’ve been carrying an added load of baggage for way too long. Jesus said, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) God longs to write on the slate of your life today—He wants to write something new.

Thank you God that you take delight in us. Teach us to handle the seasons of our lives with care. With the power of Your Holy Spirit remind us to summarize our seasons yielding all that has been before, and all that will come, into Your hands. Amen

Question: When you reflect on your past, where do you see assurance of God’s faithfulness?

Tags: Beverley Rayner, Bible, Devotional, faithfulness, God, past, Psalm 37:25, Summary for the Soul, Women

3 Responses to “Summary for the Soul”

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Doris says:

June 5, 2012 at 9:22 am

Thank you for stopping by Winnie and Fe! You are so right that God is so faithful….we love hearing from our visitors and it is so encouraging to hear how You appreciate our Daily Devotionals.
Winnie says:

May 30, 2012 at 6:36 pm

thank u for this wonderful message,am blessed n uplifted .when i reflect on my past its all by GODS grace
that am here today .despite of the hearing problem and eye sight problem i devolep when i ws 13 yrs old ,GOD has bin there for me coz ave neva failed at school currently am 17 n am in college n i really do thank GOD that he is faithful and he keeps on doin great thngs n am about to get a diploma in accounting n reminds me that despite of these problems he has given me what it takes to succed n achieve all the goals he has set for me .thank u .GOD BLESS
Fe says:

May 30, 2012 at 6:21 pm

sometimes God is use our weaknesses to Glorify Him..and His promise said When you call on Me,and when you come and pray for Me,I’ll listen.when you come and looking for Me,you’ll find me.Yes when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else,I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”Jeremiah 29-13