Personal Timeline

This activity is more concrete and visual, focusing on the chronology of what has happened and how that has impacted you. 

Pause to commit this time of reflection and prayer to God. Ask for his help in seeing and remembering what is important for you to process on from last year.

Looking Back

  1. List — Take several minutes to make a list of events that were significant in your life during the past year. This can be things that you did or that happened to you, things that affected those close to you, or even large-scale events if they had a personal impact or significance. Include both positive and negative events, and things that affected you in different ways (physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, in work, in daily life, etc).
  2. Timeline — On a blank sheet of paper (or two), draw a timeline. You can make marks for the 12 months if that is helpful to you. Write the events from your list onto the timeline.
  3. Emotional Curve — Next, using a different colored pen or pencil, draw a curve that shows how you were doing/feeling throughout the year. When the curve goes above the timeline, it indicates generally positive feelings, below denotes generally negative feelings. Use the height/depth of the curve to represent the intensity of those feelings.
  4. Pause — Take some time to look over your timeline and let it sink in. What strikes you as you look at the timeline of the last 12 months? Pause for long enough that you recognize some of your feelings and heart reactions as you consider all that has happened in the last year. 
  5. Remember Jesus — As you reflect on the timeline, how have you seen God at work throughout the year? Have you seen him help you in times of difficulty? Have there been any specific answers to prayer? How did God use specific passages of Scripture in your life over the last 12 months? Make notes of all of these things on the timeline (sometimes it can be helpful to color code or use specific symbols to differentiate different ways you have seen God at work).
  6. Pray — Talk with God about your timeline, the events on it, the curve of your feelings, your overall impressions, and how you see him at work. Your prayer may include thanks, praise, confession, lament, asking for help, etc. If any parts stir up thoughts or emotions, take some extra time to pray about those things.
  7. Write — Take some time to journal about your reflections and any themes that you notice. If any parts of your timeline feel particularly difficult, is there a trusted friend who you could talk to and follow up with?

Looking Forward


As you reflect on the last year, what hopes or longings do you have for the coming one? Where do you feel the need of God’s grace and working? This may include desires not only for yourself, but also for those around you, your community, and the world. Write a prayer committing the coming year and these hopes to your good Father.

Scroll to top