The Reflective Family: Growing in Wisdom and UnderstandingSample

As a Reflective Family, you have a wonderful gift for looking inward and thinking deeply. But sometimes, this gift can lead to a challenging belief: "I can't let go of the past." Today, we're going to explore this limiting belief and how we can overcome it.

It's natural for Reflective Families to spend time thinking about past experiences. You might find yourselves replaying old conversations, dwelling on mistakes, or holding onto regrets. While reflection can be valuable, getting stuck in the past can hold us back from growing and embracing new opportunities.

The Bible offers us wisdom for dealing with this challenge. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul writes, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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."

This passage reminds us that even great thinkers like Paul had to intentionally choose to let go of the past and focus on the future. It's not about forgetting everything that's happened but rather about not letting the past control our present and future.

God also speaks to us through Isaiah 43:18-19: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

This beautiful promise shows us that God is always at work, creating new beginnings. When we're too focused on the past, we might miss the new things God is doing in our lives right now.

For Reflective Families, letting go of the past doesn't mean stopping all reflection. Instead, it means:

• Using past experiences as lessons for growth, not burdens to carry

• Practicing forgiveness - both for ourselves and others

• Focusing our reflections on the present and future, not just the past

• Trusting in God's ability to redeem our past and create beautiful futures

Questions:

1. What past experiences or regrets does your family find hardest to let go of?

2. How might holding onto the past be limiting your family's growth or happiness?

3. What new things might God be doing in your family that you could miss if you're too focused on the past?

4. How can you use your reflective nature to focus more on present growth and future hopes?