23 Dec Reflection: Your Year in Review by Melanie Stone
Why reflect?
When we reflect, we look back at the past, and we can find treasures that we can take forward that will help us in the future. Let’s take a moment and look back at our 2016 and find some pearls we can take with us into 2017 that will help us to better enjoy our lives and improve our ministry to others.
Find encouragement
Philippians 4:8 tells we should think and meditate on things that are praiseworthy and good. When we reflect back on 2016 and think of the goodness of God, we can be encouraged by what wonderful blessings we have had in our lives and in ministry. Take a moment and reflect on the people God has put around you that have supported you through 2016. Think about the differences that were made in people’s lives because of the outreaches, the missions, the giving, the worship experiences, the sharing of God’s Word, and the fellowships. Think about the ministry development, the leadership training, the building projects. It is encouraging to reflect on God’s goodness in the accomplishments of 2016.
Find motivation
When we reflect on 2016, we can find motivation for what can be done in 2017. Since there were accomplishments in 2016, we can build on those things and do even more for the Lord in 2017. There are team members who gained experience and are ready for promotion. There are ministries that were started that are ready to turn over to someone else so new ministries can get off the ground. Improvements were made to buildings, production, graphics, communications, and ministry departments that are ready to grow. Resources have been added that can now be utilized. When we reflect, something on the inside of us tells us that the best is yet to come!
Find experience
Romans 8:28 tells us that God is working all things for good. We can always learn from our experiences, whether they were positive or negative. If something was positive, we can further develop it. If something was negative, we can look at it as a lesson, make adjustments, and do things differently in the upcoming year. When we look at the past as something we can learn from, even if it’s painful to think about, we can find healing, restoration, and improvement in our own character, our own lives, and our ministries. We can learn how to better manage our time, better lead our teams, make better choices, and be even more effective in the upcoming year.
Find inspiration
Without reflection, our perspective can be limited. When we step back, we often get a wider and better perspective that helps us see our world in the grand scheme of things. We’re more aware, more observant of the people and events around us. The perspective we get from reflection opens us up to creative ideas. It helps us to see the potential in who and what is already around us. It shows us what is possible that we may have seen as impossible before.
Seven Ways to Reflect
It takes time to reflect, but finding these treasures are good for our own benefit as well as the benefit of sharing these treasures with our team and our congregation. When I reflect, these are things I do:
- I write it down. At the end of the year, I type up some of the highlights of the past year. I actually do this every month, typing up our “wins” for the church, so it makes it easier to look back over the year.
- I talk to the Lord. I thank Him for the accomplishments and I ask Him for help with the challenges.
- I meditate in the Word. I look to the Holy Spirit to use the Word of God to help me learn from the past.
- I listen. When I read leadership books or listen to teaching, I relate it to my own life and ministry. I’ve learned a lot from listening to other leaders and teachers.
- I share it. My husband and I reflect and plan nearly every day. We also take time to start our team meetings to reflect and to hear their perspective on our experiences. Hearing myself talk and hearing how others respond to what I say, helps me to expand my reflection. Sometimes I share my reflections publicly when my lessons might also help someone else.
- I make adjustments. If I don’t have a plan of action to make changes, then my experiences have taught me nothing.
- I move forward. If there is any shame, guilt, or fear connected to my past, I have to rest in God’s grace and find the freedom to move ahead with more wisdom than I had before.
Let’s go into 2017 encouraged, motivated, experienced, and inspired!
Melanie Stone
Executive Director of Grow Churches
www.growchurches.com
Co-Pastor of Freedom House Church
www.freedomhouse.church