Young Adults' Group

A Time To Review Our Life And Ministry

by Pastor Mark
October 31, 2019

Reviewing 2019

It is the last week of October 2019 before we enter into the Christmas season. Last Saturday, at our combined fellowship group meeting, Pastor Charles gave us an appropriate word from Ps 116 concerning how we should review 2019.

The other side of blessing

It is good to look back at our life and see the blessings that God has given to us. But there is also “the other side of blessings”. As the Psalmist took time to review his life, one thing that he recalled was all the problems that he had to go through. There were different times of trouble in which he had experienced. He had to go through “trouble and sorrow”. (Ps 116:3) There were times when he was “brought low”, and “tears” were shed. (Ps 116:6, 8) It even got to the point when he was concerned about his death, “The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me”. (Ps 116:3) How did the Psalmist cope with these realities?

The challenge to pray

“Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”” (Ps 116:4) The Psalmist learnt to cope by praying to God. There was no one else who could help deliver him other than the Lord Himself. He called upon the Lord’s name. He implored the Lord for deliverance. It was an exercise of faith and trust in the Lord. He was assured that God would answer his prayer in giving him deliverance. The privilege to pray is something that we tend to take for granted. We often assume that when we go through troubles, we would know how to pray. But we often struggle in knowing what to pray for as we cope with life’s challenges. Let us be challenged to learn all over again what it means to pray.

Things that we want to check for ourselves

These are some things that we want to check ourselves for in reviewing this year.

1. Do we love God more?

The Psalmist wrote, “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications”. (Ps 116:1) He was able to love the Lord so much more. Have we learnt to love the Lord more this year? Let us check our love for the Lord.

2. Do we call upon the Lord more?

“I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (Ps 116:2) The Psalmist had a greater sense of determination to pray and to call upon the Lord. Have we learnt to pray consistently to the Lord in 2019? Let us be challenged to check our prayer life.

3. Have we strayed from the Lord?

“Return to your rest, O my soul”. (Ps 116:7) The Psalmist addressed his soul to return. Have we fallen and strayed from the Lord? Let us be challenged to return to the Lord and to find the rest that He gives to our soul.

4. What should we render to the Lord?

As we end the year, what do we want to render to the Lord? We want to take up the cup of salvation. (Ps 116:13) We should drink of the salvation that we have been specially given. Let us pay our “vows”. (Ps 116:14) Whatever promises that we have made to the Lord this year, let us fulfil them. Let us seek to be the Lord’s servant. (Ps 116:16) Let us be challenged to truly serve the Lord for all that we have been called to do. Let us truly offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Let us be challenged to render to the Lord thanksgiving for all that He has done for us. Let us end this year truly on a strong note of prayer and commitment to the Lord.

Back to Article Listing