Time for Reflection

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Scripture:

2Tim. 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

Observation:

The instructions given to Timothy are to be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus.  The focus of life is to be on service to the Lord and understanding this and putting it into perspective takes time.  Timothy is to be reflective, thinking over what he has been taught so that his understanding will increase.

Application:

While Timothy may have been taught many things and had great instruction there was still the need to set aside time for reflection, or for thinking things over.  Slowing down and taking time to reflect is necessary in our spiritual lives.  We can fill our minds with all kinds of things that we have read and studied and yet, if we don’t take the time to reflect, will it truly not mean anything to us.

I think the greatest enemy to our spiritual lives these days is time.  Are we able to take time for reflection and thinking things over?  If we don’t, we are liable to act too quickly and in haste, make mistakes.  We may simply and impulsively respond without taking time to think and this can get us into trouble.

When we read the word, we need to take time to reflect.  It’s too easy to sometimes simply put ourselves under pressure to get the “reading” done.  This can be especially true if we’re following a reading plan.  Have you ever read a chapter or two and realized you weren’t even paying attention?  It has certainly happened to me and then there is the moment of realization that you needed to slow down and think things over and reflect on what it means for your own life.

Prayer takes reflection as well.  We need the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit to give us insight and understanding into what God is trying to teach us.  This takes reflection.  We must take the time to listen.  Just as we can skim over things when reading and never really realize what we have read, it is also easy to bring our list or petitions in prayer before the Father without taking time to reflect.  Reflection is what is required if we are to grow.

Reflection is thinking things over and making space for introspection.  At the same time it seems that this type of reflection has something to do with external reflection.  How do I reflect the Image?  By spending time in reflection I will become a greater reflection.  This is what God wants from you and from me.  So take time and think over what we read, study, hear and receive and allow it to form us into clearer reflections of Jesus in the world.

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to make space for reflection in my life.  Amen.


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