Focus: Looking Back

Text: 1Sam.7:12

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."

The year has come round, and as the writer of Ecclesiastes did say, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof" (Ecl.7:8). The Lord has been faithful to you in all things. You have seen the hand of the Lord upon your life all through the year, and now, He is set to bring you through into a fresh year to advance His will on earth.

Like Samuel, it is time to raise your own stones and memorialize the help of the Lord in your life. It is written concerning Uzziah, "And God helped him against the Philistines… for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong" (2Chron.26:7,15). The Lord has helped you against all odds and lifted you above things that once held you down.

In retrospect, the psalmist declares, "The LORD is my strength and my shield… I am helped… I was brought low, and he helped me… Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: BUT the LORD helped me" (Ps.28:7; 116:6; 118:13). It has been rough and tough, but God has been there by your side, helping, strengthening, protecting you, and providing for you. You have felt the presence of the Lord around you all through the year. He has never left your side.

Today, you can testify as Mary did, "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things…" (Lk.1:49). In the book of Revelation, we read that "the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth" (Rev.12:16). That is what God has done for you. He didn't allow the flood of the enemy to swallow you. He calmed the storms and brought peace into your heart. God has used nature and people to help you. Surely, you can boldly say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."

As you look back to see all that you survived, in the same vein, look forward and see how you are going to succeed in the new year by the help of God.

Reflect with gratitude, and then refocus your energy on achieving greater success in the name of the Lord.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter