Make Time to Ponder
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. (Ps. 77:11 NIV)
At the end of each year, I spend a few mornings thinking through what has been and what could be. It is a time of reflection and projection. With pen in hand, I list the struggles and triumphs of the year gone by. I also outline a few hopes and strategic plans for the coming year.
As I sat with my journal last month, I struggled to remember. I usually record reflections, prayers, and a few thoughts about a passage of Scripture in my journal. But with more spiritual questions than answers, I had fewer journal pages to guide my yearly review.
When I stopped journaling regularly, I forfeited the practice of pondering. I stopped recording what amazed me, puzzled me, and sparked joy. I neglected to view life events from different angles and evaluate their impact. I did not assess my reactions to challenges and celebrations.
On a good day, I have a hard time retrieving memories. Trying to “remember the deeds of the Lord” without a written record was challenging. I know God was faithful—that is who he is—but the specifics are missing from my memory.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is remembered as a ponderer. After the shepherds visited her newborn son in Bethlehem, they got busy. They told everyone about their experience. Mary, however, “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19 NIV). With overwhelming emotions and hormones and the excitement of the shepherds’ story of angels sending them for a clandestine visit with the Savior of the world, Mary had the presence of mind to treasure the moment. She must have turned the events over and over in her mind, re-evaluating and relishing in the miraculous details.
Twelve years later, when Mary and Joseph found Jesus teaching in the temple after a three-day search, Mary “treasured all these things in her heart” again (Luke 2:51 NIV). Relief replaced panic as she spotted her twelve-year-old son in the crowded temple courts. Jesus reoriented her to his God-given purpose, to be in his father’s house. In the chaos of the Jerusalem streets, with her son’s mission now dictating the direction of his life, Mary soaked it all in. She allowed herself space to be amazed and sit quietly with her questions about his future.
Pondering and treasuring are cornerstones for remembering the deeds of the Lord. It doesn’t happen on a whim; it requires purpose and intention.
- With the busyness of our schedules, we must set aside time to evaluate. For me, this practice includes journaling in the morning.
- Instead of allowing social media to distract us with quick serotonin boosters, we can reflect on what is happening to us and around us.
- Solitude is essential. Consider taking an afternoon walk without your phone or earbuds. The quiet allows the mind space to roam, remember, and treasure.
Last year was a blur, but I intend to remember more of God’s goodness this year. I will spend less time with my smartphone and more time with my journal. I will seek quiet and solitude to allow myself to remember and treasure. Of course, I will write in my journal, making my end-of-the-year review bountiful. Will you join me in making time to ponder?
Father, we know you are good. The pages of Scripture are full of your compassion and kindness. Our lives are also rich with examples of your goodness. Prompt us to ponder. Remind us to remember. Guide us as we treasure all these things in our hearts. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.” (Ps 77:11-14 NIV)
“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:46-51 NIV)
Reach for More
Would you like more time to ponder? Consider practicing digital minimalism as author Cal Newport recommends. Remove social media apps from your phone. Turn off email and news notifications. Set a curfew for your screens. Turn off automatic play for the next episode on your streaming channels. Less screen time will leave you more time to ponder!
is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.
Photograph © Priscilla Du Preez, used with permission
