Tag: remembering

Remembering, Never Forgetting

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Remember What God Has Done (Daily Refresh, 12-11-25)

Remembering what God has done is an important part of Jewish worship…

After God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He instructed the people to remember His words. He told them to diligently teach His commands, and to talk about them in their houses, when they walked, when they were lying down, and when they got up in the morning (Deuteronomy 6:7). 

The Israelites were told to constantly remember what God had done, who God was, and what He had said. 

And so, in Psalm 85:2, the Psalmist engages in an act of remembrance by reflecting on God’s forgiveness: 

“You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.” (ESV)
 
The Israelites had sinned against God many times, and many times over God forgave them. The author of Psalm 85 didn’t want Israel to forget God’s great kindness, so he crafted a Psalm that would remind anyone who repeated it of God’s mercy, forgiveness, power, and love. 

The Psalmist appeared to know that purposefully remembering what God has done is a powerful practice—a powerful practice that we should take part in. 

– Remembrance helps us think about the grace and love of God. 
– Remembrance provides reassurance that we are right with God through Jesus. 
– Remembrance fills us with hope that God will be faithful to do what He’s promised. 
– Remembrance strengthens our faith in God and His Word. 
– Remembrance helps us worship God for what He has done and all that He will do.

Developing a practice of remembrance will keep our minds fixed on God, and keep our hearts connected to His grace.

So what are some of the things you can purposefully reflect on and thank God for? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

– Remember He sent His one and only son to die for the sins of the world. 
– Remember He created the world, and praise Him for it. 
– Remember He has filled you with His Holy Spirit to remind you of His words and transform you into the likeness of Jesus. 
– Remember the grace and love He has for you.

My Thoughts

This merry holiday season is a time of remembrance for most of us. We remember past Christmas times when loved ones who are no longer with us were there, enjoying time with us and other family members. We remember special gifts we have given and received. We remember the good times, reflect on the bad times and press forward to create new memories.

We can never forget what God had already done for us, even as we come into His presence and make our petitions to Him. He has already sent His Son to die for us and provided eternal life. In remembering the sacrifice He made during this season of great joy, it isn’t just the baby in the manger that draws my attention. It is the cross and the light and the angels singing and the sky getting dark. All are for remembering. I remember where I came from, knowing that I haven’t arrived at the place God wants me to be, but I am not where I was over fifty years ago. Remembering is a way to honor God, but it is also a way to keep us humble as we ponder all that God has done for us and are thankful for His presence in our lives and the presents He gives us daily of His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.

I love Christmas, but my favorite holiday will always be Easter since that is Resurrection Day. That is the day that reminds me that I, too, will one day be resurrected into new life, a life that I cannot imagine but I know that God will provide it for me because He promised it. Remembering God’s promises helps me to keep moving forward even in the hard times. Holding on to the reminders of His faithfulness is the best way that I can think of to not lose sight of the goal of eternity with Him, regardless of what life throws at us. Remembering helps us but it also helps the doubters around us, as we share our testimony of all that God has already done for us.

I had an online friend today do a LOL symbol when I said that I was trusting God not to have surgery on my rotator cuff. She said she has never seen anyone get better with that problem without having surgery. My reply was that God is a big God who has never failed me. If He decides that it is best for me to have surgery, then He will be with me through all of the procedure and rehab. If not, then He will heal and restore me because He is, after all, the Great Physician. I believe because I remember.

Look What the Lord Has Done-The Gaithers

Spiritual Amnesia

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, Video, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App, “A God Who Is Faithful”, Day 4

A History of Faithfulness

The audience for this psalm is clear: “the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob” (v. 6). The people of God were to hear and heed these words.

The people of Israel seemed to have suffered from spiritual amnesia. So, beginning with Abraham, the psalmist recounted the faithfulness of God over the span of 40 verses. The God of Israel allowed no one to oppress them (vv. 14 – 15). The word of the Lord was fulfilled in the rise of Joseph (vv. 17 – 22). The Lord made his people fruitful, more numerous than their foes (v. 24). When they were enslaved, God sent Moses (v. 26).

While the psalm lists various names, God proves to be the main character. It was God who powerfully delivered them from Pharaoh (vv. 27 – 38). Though this psalm includes only highlights from Israel’s history, the point is clear: nothing God purposed has failed.

The psalmist began with Abraham. Yet, Jesus would assert plainly in the Gospel of John, “Before Abraham was born, I am” (Jn 8:58). The epicenter of God’s faithfulness not only preceded the father of Israel, all God’s promises eventually find their “Yes” in him (2Co 1:20). God remembers his covenant; God’s people remember his wonders (Ps 105:5 – 11).

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, I don’t ever want to suffer from spiritual amnesia. Help me to always remember everything that you’ve done for me and all that you’ve promised to do. Amen.

My Thoughts

Constantly reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in the past helps us to have hope and faith in the present and the future. Psalm 105 is like a list of things God did for the Israelites, a reminder of His presence and His blessing. Reading the Bible helps me remember, too. I have notes to myself of prayers I have said at particular times with certain verses as parts of my prayer. And I note what I was praying for and recall the answer. I don’t do it often enough, but I also keep a journal of God’s promises made and kept.

I wish we didn’t have to use reminders, that it just came naturally to remember all that God has done for us. But I find that when I am in the pits of despair, I am whining so much that I forget what God has done and will do if I will just let go and listen. In real life, it’s sometimes hard to remember but the devotional today was all about remembering and telling others about what God has done so that they can have their faith built up, too.

It Is No Secret Hymn Story and Lyrics

Remembering

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

As I have aged, I have discovered that I am not as capable of remembering things from the past as I once could. The fog of having had a stroke has not helped, so that has been my go-to excuse when someone says, “Remember when…?” Most of the time, I honestly don’t remember. But one very important thing that I want to always remember is God’s steadfast love for me and all of the miracles that He has performed in my life.

One of the ways we can recall all of God’s wonderful acts on our behalf is to testify about them, to friends, at church, in a journal. Just put the words out there so that others can share in the joy you had when you saw God working on your behalf.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is healing from my stroke. In January of 2015 when I had a massive stroke (the occupational therapist told me that it was a 19 out of 21 on their scale, whatever their scale was), I could not move most of my right side, could not speak without stuttering and lost my memory for speaking Spanish. The OT encouraged me that the brain is made in such a way that it would find new pathways to get around the ones that had died when I had the stroke. Well, she didn’t say it, but I did, in my mind. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God would make a way for me to function again. I had to practice walking, telling my legs to take steps until it became natural for me again. I practiced reading, much more slowly than I had ever done before, but I could do it. And I got out old Spanish books from my high school years and practiced my Spanish. Oh, yeah, and I couldn’t write except for illegible scribbles. My physical therapist was a real gift from God. He had been my therapist after my knee surgery and my broken elbow and when he saw on the schedule that a patient was coming in who had had a stroke and saw my name, he told me he didn’t know what to expect. So, with love and patience, he worked with me in all ways possible. He brought out a whiteboard for me to practice writing on. I did OT puzzles and other exercises to build my dexterity in my hands. It amazed me that my left hand was faster than my right because my right had to be trained again. After about three months, I was able to return to teaching part-time and by five months after my stroke, I was working full-time and discharged from PT. Amazing, right? God is the God of miracles and He gave me back my speech, my ability to walk and my ability to use and teach Spanish. Some would say, “Well, of course. The OT said that your brain would find new pathways.” There is no “of course” to it! My PT said that my progress was like a miracle because I progressed so rapidly. To this day, I know to Whom to give the credit for my recovery. God gets all the kudos because not only did He make me to begin with, He healed me when I had an unimaginably scary stroke. I will admit that sometimes my brain fogs and I know that’s the sign that I need to rest, to pull away and just be quiet, whether that means napping or going to bed extra early. But I continue to be amazed each day that I awaken because I know that it is God who loves me enough to allow me to still be here on earth. Since my stroke, I have had four new grandchildren born, and I am so blessed to be able to meet them and get to know them. In fact, Penny was born only a month after my stroke and I told my PT that I needed to get better so I could go meet her. I did! I met her in March, when she was only a few weeks old. Why am I writing all of this? I’m writing my testimony for me to remember and for you to know what a miracle-working God we serve. I am thankful every day for my life that He gave back to me, and I hope that each of you is thankful for all that he has done for you.

I am so thankful! God is no respecter of persons and what He did for me, He can do for anyone.

“You Are Faithful” by Hillsong Worship