The year was 2001 and I had just turned 7. Shrek was new in theaters and a new song became an anthem for countless youth everywhere.
Hey now, you're an all star Get your game on, go play…
Although I have heard “All Star “countless times by now, the truth of some of the lyrics still resonates with me. As I get older the line "Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming?” speaks to me in a profound way especially as I see my baby turn 5 and ½ and learn to read and pray and know Jesus and so much more. The years go by so fast and they only seem to get faster.
Slow down the pace and take a moment to reflect. Examine yourself as Lamentations 3:40–42 reads “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: “We have sinned and rebelled…
In order to examine your ways and to see any shortcomings you may find it helpful to look back and assess how your year went. Slow down and take time to think about what happened this year, both good and bad things. Consider in this reflection the events of your life as well as how you have grown in your walk with the Lord.
Examine yourself using questions like these.
#1 Am I in Christ?
#2 Have I been growing closer to God in the last few years?
#3 What areas have I been growing in my relationship with God?
#4a Are there any offensive ways in me?
#4b Are there any areas of my life that I need to surrender to God and allow him to lead me in the way ever lasting?
I would encourage you to continue to ask yourself questions like these before the end of the year to examine your own ways. Test them against the Scriptures and return your heart and hands again to the Lord. Lift up your hearts and your hands to him and if there's any places of sinfulness in them, to turn them over to him. He is faithful to forgive any of your sins because of your belief in Jesus Christ.
As you examine yourself, think about your spiritual health and how you can continue to grow in your walk with the Lord. Bring your memories of the past year before the Lord as an offering to him and dedicate your next year to him as well. Choose to continue to grow in your relationships with the Lord and His Church this upcoming year.
