The Importance of Remembering
“...when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” - Psalm 63:6–8
The month of November has several holidays that remind us to remember. In the US, Thanksgiving is a holiday to thank God for all He has done for us over the previous year. It is a day of National Thanksgiving to God for all His blessings.
In the UK, Remembrance Day is November 11. In the US, we call it Veterans Day. Both Holidays are on the date that the Armistice ending World War I was signed. The holiday was created by both nations to remember all those who had served in the Great War. As the years have gone by, these days have grown to remember all those who have served in our Armed Forces.
In a 1948 speech before the House of Commons, Winston Churchill said, “Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it.” Remembering our national, family, and personal history is essential. Most importantly, we must remember all the Lord’s blessings in every area of your life. How can we be sure to remember our history, especially the Lord’s blessings to us?
First, the calendar helps us remember things. To remember a spouse's blessing, you have your anniversary, Valentine's Day, and birthdays. These are times to remember your spouse and praise God for the blessing they are in your life. As Americans, we have Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day to remember the cost and blessing of our freedom. It would be tempting to look to a church calendar to help us not forget, but the Lord has given us a day each week to remember. The Lord’s Day is a day to gather in church and worship the Lord in the morning and evening to remember all the Lord’s blessings.
Second, stories help us remember. I was blessed to grow up surrounded by great uncles and aunts. I would sit at their feet and hear their stories of the Great Depression and WWII. These were accounts of their family, especially how the Lord cared for them in these difficult times. It is good for us to tell the stories of God’s blessings to us. The habit of journaling is especially helpful in writing down what the Lord has done so that you can return to it and remember it later. Reading the Bible reminds us of the stories of God’s people in scripture. From these stories we give praise for His goodness to His people.
Finally, we need to remember in prayer. When you pray as an individual it is important that part of your prayers should be giving thanks to the Lord. This means remembering what the Lord has done. It is easy to forget the blessings of the Lord so thus remembering what God has done for you should be a part of all your prayers.
Are you remembering what God has done for you? Are you taking advantage of Lord’s Day worship, the stories of faith, and your regular prayer times to remember all the Lord has done for you? It is important to remember all that the Lord has done so as to strengthen and encourage your faith. Remember the Lord and His goodness! Praise Him for what He has done for you.
