A time of reflection and taking inventory of life is foundational for expedited spiritual growth.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Reflection, contemplation, or taking an inventory of the past life is foundational for your future spiritual growth. It can also cause expedited spiritual growth.

I am not talking about the practice of reading the Bible. The reading and pondering over the Bible verses must be a daily quality time in your personal life.

However, I am now talking about taking time to think over your past, present, and planning for the future. As we begin the new year, it is a good time to take an inventory of life, seriously analyze your past experiences, and think about your life goals. Every individual has only one life- short or long- it must seriously be thought after and planned to your best ability based on the wisdom and counsel God grants in their hearts. I understand we had a hectic and painful 2020 all around the world. We may not have time to reflect seriously on those agonizing months of the past. However, after witnessing all that you have seen and heard, a time of solemn reflection may be an excellent idea.  

What I should do? I will give some guidelines as follows:

What lessons did God teach me from my very childhood, especially during the last year/few years? Please write it down.

Did I face with losses? What are those losses? Did I learn a lesson out of it? In short, what God taught me through it all? Write down all losses.

What are the blessings God gave me? Again write it down. Did God I learned a lesson from it? What did God teach me?

What are the unique desires, skills, or abilities I have? Write down those desires, skills, or abilities. How did you use those desires, skills, or abilities in the past? Was it successful? Did people get benefit from it?

If you are a believer in Christ, did you get a special spiritual gift after your professed faith in Christ?

Did I hurt someone? Should I seek forgiveness from them or God?

Did someone hurt you? Would I be able to forgive them and move on in life? If not yet, pray to God to give you the strength to forgive and move on.

What are some of the Bible verses that you loved and cherished in your heart? What excites you about God and His word?

Did God give any particular concern or burden in your heart after you came to know Him personally through Jesus Christ? If so, what are they?

These are some of the past inventory lists? Prayerfully read the answers again and again. Pray to God in the name of Jesus to give you insights and wisdom about what you must do this year or in coming years.

Now you are on track to set a goal by trusting and leaning on the Lord. What do you think you must do for the rest of your life, based on all the above items considered?

Any Bible verse or verses come to your mind now? Or one that motivated you in the past? What is/are verses? Go to those verses and read them prayerfully. Are you getting counsel/guidance from the Holy Spirit of God, based on those Bible verses?

Many, many years ago, in such a lonely, reflection time, God placed a strong idea in my heart when I was 24 years. Let me tell you, everything that happened after was linked to that evening reflection time. Good or bad, all are related to that evening. Such is the power of a reflection time with God for your future. 

Our insight says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Start working on the God-given plan without delay, just one step at a time. For example, when God placed a strong desire in my heart for the teachbible.org website, I did not know how to do it. I am not a technically oriented person. But I began reading about building a website day and night. I spent hours and hours of research and study. Followed the step by step procedures laid out for a website by skillful people. Sought help from a company who offered initial set up assistance. If God places in your heart to study His Word-the Bible- search for the best Bible teaching seminary available in your area. A Bible college/ seminary stands for the eternal truths of the Bible and trains you to develop a Biblical world view based on the Scriptures. The one I selected was Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.

The years I spent there changed my life in unspeakable ways. Please do take steps without delay. You should not worry about how it all going to happen. God typically opens and reveals matters one step a time. He knows the big picture and your future when you give it His hands. Just take initial steps, and the Lord will carry you through by showing more steps when you take initial steps trusting and leaning on Him. And see where the Lord takes you with the ideas He placed in your heart. Just be an instrument in the hands of the Lord and give control to Him to fulfill the idea or vision. Give your time and energy from your side to make the idea come to fruition. See how God takes it from there and fulfill it.  

Listen closely to what today’s insight says: 

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart- do not trust in your strength or other people. Only trust in the Lord and His power.
• Now, remember not to lean on your own understanding because God so great in power, strength, and resources to fulfill what He want to do in and through your life this year.
• In all your ways, submit to Him- always, always, always fully submit (surrender) to him. He is going to do great things, not you or your skills, ability, or resources.
• God promises He will make your path straight- means He will guide you, counsel you, and make it successful for you.

“Father in heaven, Thank you for talking to me today. I am ready to take a reflection, a solemn inventory assessment time. Let me look back on what I learned in life through various good and bad life experiences. Please energize and motivate me to set my life goals by trusting and leaning on you and the wisdom you promised. I know I have only one life. I want to use my life, fulfilling your will and plan. I am sorry for my sins and shortcomings in the past. Please forgive me. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for me. I pray Jesus, please wash and cleanse me today. Please show me your ways so that I may walk in it and fulfill your purpose for my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”