How often do you think about your past week and learn from it? The Bible teaches us to cherish each moment and ponder how we might make the most of our time. We often read of David looking back and asking God to examine his life, to test him and know him, and to guide him on his way ahead (e.g. Psalm 26:2; 139:23).
From the time God’s people first practiced the seventh day Sabbath rest, they have meditated on the previous week. It helped them cultivate heightened awareness of His presence in their everyday lives and to align themselves more closely with His will. It leads to greater intimacy with God and thankfulness for His grace and provision. In order to meditate on your past week, you might do the following:
1. ASK the Holy Spirit to guide your meditation on your past week.
2. RECALL people, experiences, moments for which you are thankful in that week. Pay attention to times you felt God’s presence and ways He was at work in your life even in difficult situations.
3. ACKNOWLEDGE any sins or missteps from which you want to learn and to tell God you are sorry. Let this be without self-condemnation or shame, but just look at them with God. Ask God for His promised forgiveness and His grace to do better.
4. CONCLUDE your meditation by giving thanks to God and asking Him for His continued blessing and guidance for the coming days.
“Oh! Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well.”
