Today we enter a moment of reflection. We look back on the journey of 2025 and we slow down enough to see how far God has carried us. Reflection lets us see what busy days hide. It brings clarity. It brings gratitude. It brings a deeper sense of God’s presence in our ordinary daily routines.
Psalm 77:11-12:
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Psalm 77 calls us to remember the deeds of the Lord and to meditate on His mighty works. This call shapes the heart. It opens space for trust. It reminds us that God has been active in our story and our lives even when we felt unsure or tired.
Spiritual reflection allows the mind to settle so that the heart can listen.
This week also coalesce with the season of Advent. Advent invites us to wait with hope. It invites us to reflect on the path that leads to Christ. Advent slows us down. It helps us see the contrast between the noise of the year and the quiet faithfulness of God. When we look back through an Advent lens, we see that God has been near at every turn. Advent shows us that our reflection is not passive but ultimately is a step toward renewal and hope as we prepare room for Christ.
Periods of reflection and contemplation can strengthen our awareness and anchor identity. It gives structure to the story of the past year and can help us trace patterns of grace and struggle. In my new book, Bonding With God, I explore how this kind of spiritual habit can strengthen our attachment to God because people become aware of how God has moved through their lives in seasons of joy, loss, pressure, and change. Reflection brings coherence to the inner self and cultivates the soil for flourishing.
In Joshua 4, after Israel crossed the Jordan River, Joshua placed stones at the riverbank. These stones became markers. They helped future generations remember what God had done. Memory shapes our faith because it helps us see that God acts in real time through real moments.
So think back over your own year. Think of the transitions you faced. Think of the relationships that shaped your steps. Think of the moments when you felt stretched. Think of the moments when you felt supported. These are the places where God met you. Reflection lets you honor those moments. It helps you see the work of God with fresh eyes.
Take time this week to sit with a journal or in a quiet place. Write your highs and lows from 2025. Describe how you felt during each moment. Ask where God was present as you walked through these experiences. Reflection brings hidden strength into view. It shows how God produced growth during seasons that felt difficult. It shows how He opened doors during seasons that felt slow.
Because this week is also an Advent week, allow your reflection to point toward Christ. Advent reminds us that God steps into human experience with tenderness. Christ enters weary places. Christ enters waiting places. Christ enters hopeful places. Your story of 2025 sits inside that promise. God carried you through it with care. When you reflect with Advent in mind, you see the presence of Christ in every chapter.
Use these questions to guide your time:
What moments shaped you most deeply this year?
How did these moments open your eyes to God’s strength or God’s patience?
Where did you see God sustain you when life felt busy, uncertain, or heavy?
How does Advent reshape the way you see your year?
My hope is that this reflection will prepare you and shape your heart for the year that is coming. As you begin December, let your memory lift your gratitude and open your hope. Let it guide you toward Christ as you prepare for the year ahead.
