Questions For Self-Reflection And Evaluation

I recently started reading Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline. In it, Foster issues a call for depth over against superficiality. He says: “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”

I was really struck by this statement, and it occurred to me that one of the great obstacles to depth is never taking time for self-reflection and honest evaluation before God.

When I was serving as an RA at Calvary, I drafted a set of questions for daily evaluation and posted them on a cork board that came with the dormitory computer desk. Whenever I sat down at my computer (which was an awful lot!), I saw those questions.

When I came back to Denver last year, I didn’t have anywhere very good in my room to post the questions (my computer desk at home is a card table) and eventually forgot about them.

I came across them again today while working on a project for CEF. It was a timely reminder from God about one way I can pursue the “depth” that Richard Foster talks about. Here they are, re-written a bit to reflect my current context:

1. What have I done today to develop intimacy with the text of Holy Scripture? Did I seek to listen to what God was saying? What have I done differently today as a result? How is my life different?

2. Have I practiced having a glad and sincere heart today? Have I said any prayers of thanksgiving?

3. Did I set aside time today to intercede in prayer for BVC Regeneration, the CEF staff, this year’s summer missionaries, my financial supporters, or my prayer team?

4. Have I helped someone today? Did I seek opportunities to help someone?

5. Have I spoken any words of affirmation to someone today?

6. What have I done today to make disciples? Is there a Paul, a Barnabas and a Timothy in my life? What am I doing this week to get outside of my Christian bubble?

7. Has my stewardship today been characterized by simplicity and generosity, or by consumerism?

8. What has been the depth and direction of my thought life today?

9. Have I engaged fully today? Alternately, have I taken time for Sabbath rest? Did I give myself margin in my schedule?

10. There is a difference between activity and accomplishment. Which of these characterized my work today?

11. Have I been at all lazy or slothful today? Have I entertained any flirtatious or lustful thoughts or attitudes? Is there anything I need to repent of?

12. Are there any conflicts I need to address or relationships I need to mend?

13. Have I done something today to exercise my intellect and develop my mind?

14. Did I exercise today? What did I eat and drink?

I found reading through these again today to be personally quite helpful, and I hope they can be of help to the community.

What do you think? If you had to draft something similar, what would your questions look like?

Little Wonders

Last night, in his sermon on transcendence and immanence, Andrew mentioned something that got me thinking a lot.
He used the term "little wonders", or something similar, to describe the little things that God reveals of Himself to us on any given day. Andrew said that since we live in a world torn by Satan, sin and death, God knows that we need little pick-me-ups in the day to keep us going.
I was pondering what my "little wonders" have been, and the answer came right away: At my work, I see about two hundred Little Wonders every week! I've been having such a bad attitude about my job, and I don't know why. But I have resolved to try to think of it as the place where I meet all my "little wonders". I would have a harder time seeing the small miracles of God if I stayed home in my robe and drank tea all day and played Mario Kart on the Wii (although as a vacation, that sounds awesome!). Instead, I drive half an hour to and from work four days a week to witness the miracles that each have a name and a face. I am so blessed! What do I have to complain about?
This brings me to two points. Hopefully I am not spoiling a surprise, but it will be awesome that we are going to have a sermon series on work coming up soon in Regen. Hurray!
And two: I want to know what "little wonders" God has been revealing Himself through for all of you, my friends? Let us all hear them and praise God together.