December 29: Looking Back on the Year

The year is almost over. If you looked back honestly, what would you see?

Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm, a prayer of Moses. He’d lived a long, hard life. And near the end of it, he looked at how short human life really is. Like grass that grows in the morning and withers by evening. And he prayed: teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Numbering your days doesn’t mean being gloomy. It means paying attention. Noticing that time is precious and limited. Asking what you’re doing with it.

The end of a year is a natural time for that kind of look. Think of it as a bigger version of the nightly review from Step Ten. Not to beat yourself up. To see clearly, give thanks and learn.

Here are some questions to sit with.

Where were you a year ago? What’s different now? Count the sober days, if that helps, but also count the less obvious things. Relationships repaired. Habits changed. Fears faced. Prayers answered.

What were the hard parts? Losses. Slips. Mistakes. Things that didn’t work out. Be honest. Then ask what each one taught you.

Who helped you this year? Write their names down. Have you thanked them?

Who did you help? Where did you carry the message? Where did you serve? Those are worth remembering. Not to feel proud. To see how God used you.

Where did you see God this year? Even in small ways. A verse at the right time. A friend who called. A craving that passed. A door that opened.

What do you want to carry into next year? And what do you want to leave behind?

Take your time with these. You don’t have to answer them all today. But give yourself a quiet hour sometime before the year turns. It’s one of the most useful hours you’ll spend.

One thing today

Set aside an hour before New Year’s Day. Answer at least three of the questions above in writing. End by thanking God for the year, the good and the hard.

A prayer

Lord, teach me to number my days. Thank You for this year, every sober day, every person who helped, every lesson learned. Give me a heart of wisdom for the year ahead. Amen.

A year-end look draws on Step Ten and Step Twelve.

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