Last Week Of The Year, Timeout To Seek The Lord
BRD REFLECTION 2025
Isaiah 65:1-16 and Psalm 146 (NIV)
(Goh Khean Chye from Discipleship & Nurture)
READ:
Isaiah 65:1-16 (NLT)
These passages jump out to me as I read from my favourite NLT version:
65 The Lord says,
“I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.
I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’
to a nation that did not call on my name.
2 All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people.
But they follow their own evil paths
and their own crooked schemes.
–
–
–8 “But I will not destroy them all,”
says the Lord.
“For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones
(and someone will say, ‘Don’t throw them all away—
some of those grapes are good!’),
so I will not destroy all Israel.
For I still have true servants there.
9 I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel
and of Judah to possess my land.
Those I choose will inherit it,
and my servants will live there.
OBSERVE:
These passages were written for the returnees to Jerusalem after a long exile. The Lord found many to be following the ways of the world, but He also found a few good and faithful servants among His people.
APPLY:
As I read the assigned passages keeping in mind that this is to be published on 27th December, 2 days after we celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas and a few days before the start of the new year, I felt led to take this time to reflect on the past year and the year ahead.
How many times have I strayed and the Lord faithfully pursued me?
How many times has the Lord intervened when I needed Him ?
How many times have I been distracted and not sought Him ?
How many times have I said why me, when challenges happen instead of looking to the Lord and asking what He wanted to teach me?
DO:
I will take this time at the close of the year, to take a Sabbath, reflect on, and
- Give thanks for the Lord’s blessings;
- Ask for His forgiveness for the times that I have strayed, been distracted, and pursued my own plans; and
- Seek His plans for me in the coming year.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, help me not to be distracted by the things of this world but help me each day to seek You and ask what are Your plans for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
