Do you remember what God has done?

Ever struggle with remembering? 

Same.

As humans, we are really good at forgetting. Our memories fade over time and are constantly overwritten by new ones. 

Our minds tend to forget things; the good, the bad, the ugly.

Most times, this is a minor inconvenience. But sometimes, it can be deeper than that. When our memories lead us to forget God and His actions, we can become our own worst enemies. 

Forgetfulness leads to ingratitude

Whenever the bible attributes a character to God, I immediately think that humans probably don’t have that same characteristic, or that we at least struggle to show it in the same way that God does. 
So when the bible teaches that God is “not unrighteous to forget” (Hebrews 6:10), I think about how easily we, as people, forget. 

Forgetting in and of itself isn’t the issue, but it’s what comes as a result of forgetting. 

When we forget, we complain. When we forget, we don’t give thanks.

Can you relate? 
Remember the time you prayed for a relationship, a marriage, to have children, for new friends, a new church maybe? And now you complain about those exact things?

When we forget what we prayed for, or where we once were, who we once were, what we’ve been through, we can foster ingratitude, indifference, discontentment… and all of these are a breeding ground for us to be led by our emotions, often forgetting to do the one thing God requires us to do at all times: give thanks and pray.

Remembering leads to gratitude 

In the Old Testament, God commanded Israel to remember what He had done. And if you’re familiar with the story of the Israelites, then you know how many times they countlessly forgot God and ended up in idolatry. So God put specific celebrations, rituals, and dates in place to help them to remember Him. 

God knows that when we remember his goodness, his kindness, our hope is renewed and we are strengthened by this.

So in his loving-kindness, he put specific celebrations to help the Israelites, and in the New Testament, we’re also given specific sacraments to help us remember Him, e.g. the lord's supper. God in his grace, has also given us the Holy Spirit who ‘brings to remembrance’ all that God has said to us (John 14:26).

Grace to remember 

Like Israel, we are quick to forget God’s kindness and rebel. Like Israel, we can soon forget and grow impatient in our waiting – especially through trials or suffering.

I encourage you to record a journal of your journey with God, keeping track of answered prayers and reflecting daily on the little moments. In those times where you feel you’re getting sidetracked or becoming forgetful, open your journal and reread the recorded miracles along the way.

And ultimately, let us remember that our own effort will not ultimately transform our forgetfulness – it’s the Helper who will remind us of what Jesus has done. 

P.s Grateful that the Holy Spirit prompted me to write this after reading a chapter in Judges on the train on my commute to work, during a season of serious forgetfulness.