Young Adults' Group

Reflections On 2016

by Pastor Mark
December 28, 2016

Taking time to reflect as we end 2016

As we come to the conclusion of another year, it is most appropriate for us to take time to reflect over how this year has been. 2016 was another momentous year for the world, for Bethany and for me personally. And it is important to ask ourselves how we have grown throughout the year.

For me, I asked myself what are some of the significant lessons that I have not only learned but have also come to apply into my own life and faith. There are three significant lessons that I have come to deeply appreciate this year.

Significant lessons of 2016

1. “Passing over the transgression of the remnant”

This first lesson that have been such an encouragement to my own heart was taught actually at last year’s Down Memory Lane (DML). Pastor Charles taught from Micah about how God is like no other god…who would pardon our sins and pass over the transgressions of the remnant. (Micah 7:18) The Lord would not just pardon our sin but will go beyond and pass over our transgressions.

This was and still is such a wonderful lesson about the forgiveness of God that has been an encouragement to my own heart whenever I have to deal with my own sins. Even as we look back over this year, we recognise that we still struggle much with our sins and we thank God for the assurance of the passing over of our sins.

2. “Call to Me”

Another significant lesson that I remember is about prayer. At the Family Camp, we learned about calling out to God and how He will answer us. (Jer 33:3) Pastor Charles taught about interactive prayer from the example of Jeremiah’s interaction with God in prayer both at his calling and in his ministry.

It has been an incredible year is seeing how God answered our prayers in so many ways…both individually and as a church. The completion of the first phrase of Bethany’s A and A was a wonderful answer to our prayers…in which God showed us great and mighty things. We thank God that we can interact with Him in prayer as we wait for Him to answer.

3. “Coming to Mt Zion”

The third significant lesson that I learned is what it means for us to come to Mt Zion. We learned that as we come together to worship the Lord, we are coming together to spiritual Mt Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and the church of the firstborn. (Heb 12:22) This truly changed my perspective of how we should worship the Lord as a church. There is great spiritual significance when we come before the Lord…to spiritual Mt Zion, to stand in awe of the Lord as we give praise and glory to Him.

As we end this year, let us take time to reflect over what we have learned and applied into our life. What are your own significant lessons that you have truly learned for yourself this year? Let us end this year giving thanks and praise for all that we have learned from the Lord.

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