Good evening! As our day draws to a close, our journey brings us to a point of reflection and preparation for tomorrow. So much has transpired since we opened our eyes, hasn’t it? Good things and the not so good things. Victories and failures. We had our high spots and our low. Despite how our day went, we didn’t walk it alone.
With that said, let’s take this time to reflect on our day.
If you’re just joining me on this journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline, I invite you to read my article “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
Breathing Exercise
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to release stress, calm our minds and prepare us for this evenings reflection. You can take a few moments to breathe on your own or use the following video to guide you through a breathing exercise. This one is similar to the one from our morning discipline, but is self guided.
Music For Reflection
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time ttogether.
Prayer of Reflection
Now that we’re calm, and have let the worries of the day go, let us transition into a time of prayer.
Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Loving Lord,
As the day is coming to an end, I want to thank You for being with me in all that has taken place today. I also want to lay the whole day before You, asking that you would show me if there is anything that I have done to hurt or harm another person unknowingly, or if I have done anything that is displeasing in Your sight, or quenched the work of the Spirit in me, so that I may turn away from such things in the days that lie ahead.
Lord, I desire to do Your will in all things. I pray that You would cleanse me of any wrong thoughts or attitudes that may have surfaced in my heart today. Wash me in Your cleansing flood, I pray.
Thank You, that You are a God who forgives our transgressions when we are willing to confess them to You, knowing that such cleansing before You immediately draws us back into sweet fellowship with Yourself.
Give me a good nights rest I pray, and may I rest quietly in Your loving arms in the knowledge that in Christ, I am eternally secure, due to Your amazing grace, for which I praise You. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Source: Evening Prayers | Prayer of Reflection On the Past Day
Affirmations
Affirmations are one way we can speak to our minds and remind ourselves of who we are in God and what He wants to do through us. Sometimes, when we struggle to let go of the days troubles it takes the words of our lips to speak His refreshment to our minds and help us find rest.
Here are a few affirmations for this evening that you can speak over this time of rest.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this evening:
- God is my stronghold in the day of trouble
- God’s blessings make me rich and I am thankful for all of them
- God’s peace will guard my heart and mind
- God who is in me is greater than he who is in the world
Scriptures for Affirmation
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the rest we find in Jesus who reassures us that His burden is light and that we can trade our burden for His.
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe pick one and try to commit it to memory as well:
- Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”
- Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
- Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
An Evening Reflection
This morning’s challenge was to learn the power of the word “No”. Let us take some time to reflect on our day and the moments when we needed to say “No”.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you reflect. As you ask yourselves these questions and perhaps take the time to write your responses in a journal (or an online journal) so you can revisit them in the days ahead and see your progress and how God is working in your life:
- Were there moments I had to say “No” today?
- If so, what did I say “No” to?
- Was it easy to say “No”?
- If so, what made it easy?
- If not, what made it hard?
- What were the things I said “Yes” to? Was it worth it?
- If so, why?
- If not, why?
- In what ways did I see God working in my day?
Now, lay all the days events at the feet of Jesus, take a deep breath, and rest in His faithfulness.
Tomorrow is a new day!
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