I was reminded this weekend of the joy, and the call, to remember.
God called Israel to be a people who would remember what He had done for them. All throughout Deuteronomy God tells them "Remember what the LORD your God did." Yearly celebrations provided a chance to remember what God had done, to pass it on to their children.
I started keeping a journal several years ago when I was in Europe, and it has become one of my favorite things to read back through it every year. To see where I was at a year ago, and see where God has brought me. To look back and remember what God has done, even the small things. To see the ways in which He is renewing me more and more into the image of Christ.
The new year is just ripe for remembering...for looking back over the past twelve months and anticipating the next. I think this Puritan prayer sums it up:
Thy goodness has been with me during another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed Pilot of my future as of my past.
I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Spirit, filling my sails.
2 comments:
It's amazing how quickly we forget. So I think it's worthwhile to periodically stop, look back at prayer requests, and see how God answers.
Often when I freak out, I just have to remember how God has provided in the past.
God wants us to continually be remembering all the good He has done for us, because when we begin to forget- we begin to doubt. It is so easy to let satan in when we forget how loving, kind, and gentle God has been to us in the past.
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