Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

As the year draws slowly to a close, each day presents itself as a “time to be silent” and a “time to search” – a time to reflect on the year that has just passed, and to look ahead to the coming year. Over the next three days (Monday to Wednesday) the daily devotional blog post will offer a suggestion for this kind of prayerful reflection and/or anticipation. Please consider setting aside significant time each day to pray and reflect deliberately in the way outlined in the post.

As you prepare today, ask the LORD to help you see this past year of your life through His eyes. Ask Him to open your heart to see 2025 from His perspective. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide this time.

Approaching your year one month at a time, and using your diary or journal to help jog your memory, reflect on the year that has been, for the purpose of gratitude. What are you especially thankful for from the past year? It could be an event, a friendship, a romantic relationship, an area of personal growth, an answered prayer, a new discovery of spiritual truth, a particular moment with God, or even simple things like the beauty you have encountered in nature. Pay attention particularly to the ways in which you are able to sense that God grew you spiritually or used you for the extension of His Kingdom.

As each blessing comes to mind, write (or type) a list. Once you have compiled your list as comprehensively as possible, give God thanks for the blessings one by one. Then sit quietly and ask God what He might be showing you or saying to you through your time of reflection.

Heavenly Father, bless each of us as we pursue these three days of reflection and prayer together. May my fellow-pilgrims, who take this time to reflect on the year and to perceive and acknowledge Your hand at work in their lives, be richly blessed. Amen.