Daily Word of Grace # 207 (December 31, 2020)
As you reflect on the past year what stands out to you? What happened this past year that changed your life—positively or negatively? What were some of the high points or milestones of this past year? What were some of the low points or unexpected challenges? What were some unexpected and undeserved blessings? Which relationships in your life grew closer, which grew more distant? In what ways did you succeed this year? In what ways did you fail? No matter what has happened in your life this past year, you can commend it—all of it, every single aspect of it—to the mercy and grace of the Lord. The psalmist put it this way, “I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hand” (Psalm 31:14-15). Not only are your times in the Lord’s hands—including this past year and next year and every year—but you yourself are in the Lord’s hands (Isaiah 49:16). And even if this past year has included some failures on your part (mine has), the Lord still holds your times and your very self in his hands—and as the late Brennan Manning put it, “If I’ve learned anything about the world of grace, it’s that failure is always a chance for a do-over” (All is Grace 162). This means that this year, next year, every year, and at all times we can give thanks to the Lord.
Love and Prayers,
Dave