God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. (Psalms 46:1 HCSB)

 

Christmas is only a few weeks away. It seems strange that the year is almost over. I’ve always heard the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” But, I think it also flies when you are overly busy.

Here is another saying, “Stop and smell the roses.” Isn’t that hard to do sometimes? You know, maybe it’s good that Thanksgiving is just over a month away from the end of the year. Most of us do stop and think about what we are thankful for, but, after Thanksgiving is over, perhaps we need to reflect on the events of the year and ask ourselves some questions:

1. Did I have fun this year despite any disappointments I had?
2. Did I enjoy most of the things that happened this year?

Some of us may not have had that great of a year; death of a loved one, divorce and medical and financial hardships can keep us from reflecting on some of the positive things that happened. But the above questions should have brought from the back of your mind things that were fun and enjoyable. If not, ask God to help you and he will.

The Bible is full of stories of when God helped His people. He used Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. He used the Judges to save His people from the oppression of the neighboring peoples. He used Esther to save His people from obliteration. The list goes on and on.

If we look at the life of Daniel, we can see how God helped him over and over. First, Daniel didn’t want to defile his body by eating the king’s food. It was against what God said he could eat. He was given permission to eat only vegetables. As a result, he and his friends were stronger and healthier than the men who ate the king’s food. They were the ones the king selected to serve in the king’s court. (Daniel 1)

Second, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den because his fellow administrators were jealous and tricked the king into writing an edict they knew Daniel would break. The edict said that if anyone petitioned anyone other than the king for 30 days, he would be thrown into the lion’s den. The administrators knew that Daniel prayed on the roof of his home every day, but the king did not. When the edict was passed and Daniel did his daily praying, they were able to approach the king and have Daniel thrown into the lion’s den.

God saved Daniel by sending an angel to shut the lion’s mouths. When morning came, the king ran to see if God had saved Daniel and had him brought out. (Daniel 6)

Lastly, God also used Daniel to prove that He was the one true God. God gave him the wisdom to interpret dreams. Daniel outlived several kings. With each new king, God had them dream something that so disturbed them that over and over they sent for Daniel to interpret them. Daniel always claimed the interpretations came from God and, in so doing, put the importance on God and not himself. Many of these kings came to recognize that God is the true God.

Can you imagine what it was like each year for Daniel to look back and see what God had done for him? Can you imagine what it must have been like to look back at the end of his life? What a legacy!

I can only hope that each year I look back that I would see God’s work. But, even more than that, I hope that I can see God’s work while it’s happening so I can say thank You, then and there, and thank You at the end of the year when I’m reflecting on the year.

 

Lord God of Heaven, thank You for all the wonderful things You have done for me this year. Thank You for being with me during the hard times. Help me to see how You worked things out. But, also, help me to see how You are working things out in the midst of every situation.

 

Here is another saying, “Stop and smell the roses.” Isn’t that hard to do sometimes? Tweet This.

I’ve always heard the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” But, I think it also flies when you are overly busy. Tweet This.