“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” – Trevor Hudson, A Mile In My Shoes
We can have access to all of the greatest new ideas and resources in Christian living but if we are unwilling to think back over what God has already done in our lives then we are missing some of our greatest opportunities to learn. Understanding how God has already worked in my life has given me great comfort. I have learned to not be so hard on myself and realize that my experiences in the past are directly related to what I am capable of learning and receiving from God here in the present. That is what growth is all about.
If I am willing to be used by God and be moved by the Holy Spirit then I must accept where I am now in my spiritual life and seek guidance as to how to move forward in the reality of my current situation. The framework of your experiences is the best location for achieving growth in the spiritual life.
What experiences require your reflection? Make a list of three experiences that have had the biggest impact on your Christian life. Here are mine:
Breakdown of 2000
Sept. 11, 2001
birth of our youngest daughter