The Art of Reflection: Leaving Behind and Carrying Forward

Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV)

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Each month comes with its own story. Some chapters are full of joy and progress, others bring challenge or unexpected turns. But if we don’t pause to reflect, we can move from one season to the next without realizing what we’ve actually gained—or what we’re still carrying that doesn’t belong.

Why Reflection is More Than Remembering

Reflection is not just looking back. It’s looking back with intention. It asks: What do I want to carry with me? What do I need to release?

This practice keeps us from being passive travelers through life. Instead, it trains us to notice the hand of God in the details and become active participants in how we grow.

• Leaving Behind is an act of surrender. It means recognizing what drained us, distracted us, or weighed us down—and releasing it. Sometimes this is a habit. Sometimes it’s a thought pattern. Sometimes it’s simply the pressure we’ve been putting on ourselves that God never asked us to carry.

• Carrying Forward is an act of stewardship. It means holding onto what gave us life—whether that was a new rhythm of prayer, a moment of courage, or a truth God revealed to us. These are the seeds worth guarding, because they can multiply in the season ahead.

  
  

Both parts matter. If we try to carry everything forward, we live cluttered and heavy. If we only release and never carry forward, we miss the fruit God has grown in us. Reflection helps us discern the difference.

Building a Rhythm of Reflection

Making reflection a regular practice—at the end of each month or even each week—teaches us to become gardeners of the soul. Weeding, pruning, and harvesting all belong to the process of growth.

When we pause to reflect:

• We let gratitude rise for what God has done.

• We learn from both the surprises and the struggles.

• We enter the next season lighter, clearer, and more aligned.

  
  

I’ve created a simple Reflection Guide to help you practice this rhythm. It includes prompts you can use to pause, notice, and prayerfully discern what to leave behind and what to carry forward.

Lord, thank You for the seeds planted in me this month—some I noticed, some I overlooked, and some still waiting beneath the surface to grow. I praise You for being faithful in both the harvest and the hidden places. Give me discernment to see clearly what no longer belongs in this season. Help me to release the weight of distractions, fears, and patterns that keep me from walking in freedom. Teach me to lay them down with trust, knowing You hold my future in Your hands. Strengthen me to carry forward the truths You’ve revealed, the habits that have brought life, and the moments where I felt Your Spirit breathing through me. Guard those seeds in me so they may multiply and bear lasting fruit. As I step into a new month, align my heart with Yours. Let my days be marked by gratitude, courage, and obedience. May my life be a reflection of Your goodness, bringing light and hope to others. Amen.

Download your Reflection Guide here:

reflection_guide.pdf

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