Remembering

As I age, remembering has become an issue. Actually, remembering has always been an issue for me. Several times I have forgotten to turn off my car and take the keys with me, before exiting and locking myself out. Once the car ran for three hours at the mall before I returned to discover what I had done. More than a few times, I have wished I didn’t disconnect my landline, because it would have been handy to help me locate my cell phone. Furthermore, the act of remembering is adversely affected by being too busy or distracted—problems that I struggle with. But, despite this personal tendency, I do remember certain things that I wish I could forget. I have no problem remembering the tragic moments in my life, the times someone has hurt my feelings, or embarrassing actions I have committed. I seem to be very selective in remembering. I doubt I am alone. And sadly, it is easy to forget to remember God. I become so busy enjoying His blessings, I forget the Giver.

After God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He warned them that their inclination would be to forget:

Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Deuteronomy 6:12

Perhaps this is why God tells us that we need to be intentional about remembering Him. In close to 150 instances, God calls His people to remember. For example, He admonished the Israelites to remember His mighty acts and miracles as well as His covenant.  In the New Testament we are called to “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel” 2 Timothy 2:8.

Remembering who God is and what He has done is not meant to be a chore or burden. God wants us to remember in order to bless us—to comfort, to encourage, and to sustain us.

Reading God’s Word by the power of God’s Spirit is the means to remember who He is so that whatever we are going through, we can remember that He is faithful.