I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1, NIV)
For many who love the game, golf is not only about the 18 holes you play and write down on the scorecard. Some come for the golf and stay for the drinks, or the meal, or the massage. Some play cards, roll dice, or just sit around and chew the proverbial fat. Serious players might head to the range and work out their concerns, while the business-minded might quickly load up the trunk and head back to the office for a couple of hours of evening work.
Whichever of these they are, however, here is something nearly all these players have in common: sometime after the round, they’ll think about the shots they loved and the shots they hated. They’ll closely look at how they played and how it might have gone differently. “There are clues everywhere on how you can improve,” says Jon Sherman, the instructor who has given us some great guidelines for building strong habits around our game.
The men and women of God are meant to be “reviewers,” too. Often throughout Scripture, we are called to remember the work of God in our lives.
Reflection is the hallmark of a faith that looks back with thanksgiving and a faith that looks forward with greater understanding.First, let’s examine how this may be done. You may use intentional times of solitude for the purpose of reflecting on what God has done—and is doing—in your life. It’s a time of meditation and prayer that can return your soul to a thankful recognition of God’s hand in your life. Others who are inclined toward journaling might use a record of prayers to go back and see how God has answered each one, rejoicing in his attention to even our smallest needs.
With practices this focused, however, you may need some motivation. What makes remembrance of God’s work in your life so valuable? For one, our remembering of God aligns with his remembering of us. He remembers his promises to us, his mercy, his love; he remembers that we are only dust. And we remember that he is our Redeemer, a miracle worker, the one who provides for all our needs. Second, remembering what God has done not only fills our hearts and mouths with praise but also fills our spirits with confidence for what he can and may yet do.
Reflection is the hallmark of a faith that looks back with thanksgiving and a faith that looks forward with greater understanding. It makes us mindful people—mindful of the ways of God.
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Jeff Hopper
November 19, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.