Ever-patient Amy has an unofficial title in our home which greatly benefits Alicia, Landon and me. Amy is the Semiomnisicent One. When we reverently approach her we chant, “Have you seen the…Have you seen the…Have you seen the…” For me it is usually a quest for my keys, wallet or the television remote. For Alicia it is whatever she had in her hand five minutes ago. Landon has not even reached the place in life where he acknowledges that there is the expectation upon him to know where anything is. Thankfully the Semiomniscient One remembers and retrieves what we’ve forgotten without wearying of our leaky memories. Listen to what God says to His people in Jeremiah 51:50:
“You who have escaped from the sword, go, do not stand still! Remember the Lord…”
I was surprised to see the number of times Israel is indicted in the Old Testament for the folly of forgetting God. God equates on several different occasions the sinfulness of Israel with the act of failing to remember Him. When we stop and think about that it makes complete sense. We forget God when we are lazy. We forget God when we lie. When we lust we have completely forgotten the Lord. Gossips aren’t remembering Jesus Christ when they slight their fellow human. Those who steal by declining to financially support Kingdom endeavors have spiritual amnesia. Every time we commit an act of deliberate sin we force God from our minds in order to do so. Therefore I will make a blanket statement that might give us something to chew on today: Absent mindedChristians inevitably become straying and sinning Christians. Will you spend some time today remembering your history with God? Think about the years of your ignorance when He was working on your behalf while you remained clueless. Some of you might want to ponder why He was so unspeakably gracious to deposit you in a Christian home that preserved you from the poison of man’s prostituted paradise. Others who are reading were control freaks and resisted immensely the Spirit’s work in bringing you to Christ…but relentlessly bring you He did! Then, subsequent to your salvation, God has mightily blessed you. Remember the prayers that He has affirmed. Remember the provision which He has often granted. Is He not your constant teacher, revealing His mighty and precious Self to you? It is good to reflect on how He has comforted you, quieted you, healed you and defended you. How often against the bombardment from the enemy has your Father stepped up and declared, ‘Enough!’ as He brings an end to the barrage? God has fed you and clothed you and sheltered you for all of these faithful years. I am too familiar with my own frailty to submit the question of how we forget the Lord; we forget Him because we are tainted with sin and prone to selfishness. Something in us still has an appeal for the darkness above the light. The real question is not how we can forget God but rather…why do we do so? Forgetting Him brings such sadness and trouble. Remembering God results in nothing but goodness.
“They have forgotten the Lord their God. Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness. Behold, we come to You, for You are the Lord our God.” – Jeremiah 3:21-22 {ESV}
May any and all absent minded pilgrims today break away from the things occupying their heart-focus and, instead, spend some time…remembering. Why don’t you take a moment and share a memory below in the Leave A Reply section – give God the praise for something He has done or is doing on your behalf. Have a great weekend!
Several years after being wronged by two friends, I swore that I would never befriend anyone again. Then God had mercy on me. He sent me a job ( which I did not intend to take) where I met a loving Godly lady who has poured God’s love into my life. She has been a friend like no other, and she is always ready and on time with scriptural Godly counsel. She has been a prayer partner through difficult times, and I am thankful for her.
God gave me a wonderful husband and two intellingent children. He has blessed us with health and loving families. Our provision for the last few years could have come from nowhere other than God! God is always GREAT!
Pardon my “not so perfect” English. I am still learning.
To learn from the Holy Spirit is such a marvellous experience. His wisdom always a prayer away. My husband went on a business trip recently and, as soon as He left, a thought came to mind, very clear, saying: ” You will not see him alive again”. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I took the thought captive, and said, out loud: ” He will return because God made a certain promise to me about Him which is not fulfilled yet”. That night my husband went into hypoglycemia and his diabetic monitor failed to send the normal warning signs. Alone in his hotel room, he woke up and was able to call the front desk and ask them to bring him something sweet to drink. He was already too weak and disoriented to find the snacks I packed for him. I thank God for taking care of him and for teaching me the power of taking a thought captive and making it bow down to the truth of God`s Word. God is no liar and He will give us what He promised – not that we deserve any of that. It is just because of who He is.
Six years ago my husband fell off a wave runner and went to the hospital for x-rays since he had a constant pain in his side. The radiologist found renal cell carcenoma by “accident”. We know better. It was God revealing it to us. The moment we became aware of the cancer the pain dissapeared. Through a very long procedure the Lord guided the urologist and the cancer was removed and the kidney healed and works fine.
It is comforting to know that when I lack joy for the day, I can go on my knees and ask for it in the name of Jesus and receive it, the same with energy, wisdom, love, whatever I need I can always go to our Lord Jesus. The Lord even gave us the location of our lost remote not too long ago. My ten year old was just amazed at the proof of His presence when we opened our eyes, after prayer, and I told her exactly where to look. I could see that the wonder of finding that remote right away after prayer made a deep impression on her. By the way, we wanted to listen to Worship Music via the TV set and the Lord knew that.
The glory belongs to Jesus Christ!!
How do I love thee, My Lord, my Savior…where do I begin to thank you for all you have provided for me? One day at a time you encourage me, direct me, discpline me when I err. My praise for you
is never ending…and even when I forget my blessings you are always there to remind me of your love and care. When I think I have reached my “wits end” you are there for me and telling me…”keep on keeping on you are mine and I will not allow your foot to slip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
How well does the Lord know we are prone to forget & slow to remember?
And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (I Cor 11:24/25)
I praise God for regularly giving me His truth to defeat lies and the faith to believe it. I praise Him for providing for our family in bleak times and for His faithfulness in keeping His promises to me.
Where do I begin ? HE has done so much for me ! From giving me what I feel is the most precious three children , to my husband and best friend . (Whom we just celebrated 11 years together ). To bringing one of the most godly men I know in my life who had the honor of leading Kyle and I to the lord . And mentored is for an entire year !!! HIS love and comfort and guidance has helped me go through some of the toughest times in my life . Because of HIS define grace I am here . Because of
HIM all this was possible 😉
When I remember what He has done I could write countless things…one that is so precious is the promise to me, when I was so discouraged that He wasn’t listening to me when I called out to Him on behalf of my precious Kelly, He sent a great man of God my way to let me know, “God does hear you when you pray and He DOES care for your precious Kelly”. (BTW…I had not shared with this Pastor that I was struggling with God not hearing me :)) When I find myself “forgetting” Him, I always go back to that night. Recent reminders of what He’s doing…seeing our precious Amy walking and doing her best to live life to it’s fullest!!! Once again, He heard us, He cares for us, and He’s always working things for our good as long as we remember to give Him HIS glory!!!!! Great blog Jeff!!! So good to remember all He’s done for us!!!!!
God has gifted me with a wife that I had no business even associating with ‘back in the day’ then He has taken disparate pieces and created an incredible family for us. He also has repeatedly and continuously presented the very right situation at the exact right time and has allowed me the benefit of seeing His hand all over my life.
This reminds me of Ravi Zacharias’ by-line: “Let my people think.” I love your emphasis on being thinking Christians…keep it up! Tell Amy to remind you to do so.