Use the Power of Remembrance
So many times when negative things happen to us, we just tuck them away into the treasury of our heart. Perhaps you’ve been experiencing some of these over the past weeks. But then when you want to remember what is beneficial and what is good, the negative thoughts break in that make you feel sad, lonely, or depressed. Maybe those negative thoughts make you feel fearful for what could happen in the future. That’s what negative thoughts do. They cause us to pause, to not walk in faith and victory. That’s why I want to encourage you to remember the good.
Throughout the New Testament, the apostles often made statements such as, “I am writing to remind you.” The apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Keep reminding God’s people of these things” (2 Timothy 2:14). Peter wrote to his readers: “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2 Peter 3:1). They knew the power in remembering the right things. They knew that when you remember what God has said and done, it will transform your thinking and your life. They knew that it’s so easy to put our minds on autopilot and forget all His benefits. We have to know that there’s transforming power in our remembrances, especially during times of difficulty.
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to take time out from their busy schedules seven times a year to celebrate a variety of national festivals, which were times of remembrance marked by thanksgiving and joyous feasting. This wasn’t optional. He required His people to regularly take time and pause to remember and celebrate the miracles and the marvelous deeds He had done on their behalf.
Do you know why He wanted them to do that? Because they were a lot like us today. We get busy doing life, struggling so hard to make things happen every day, that we tend to forget what’s more important than all that. We forget Who’s in control. We forget Who we can depend on to make things happen. We forget Who can do things that we can’t do. We even forget the miracles that God has done in our lives—how He’s worked in our lives, our victories, our successes, the good times—and we get stuck in negativity.
God wants you to remember the good, what He has done for you and in your life. When you remember the good, it helps you through the tough times. He wants you to move forward today. Use the power of remembrance to strengthen your faith and help you get through.
Throughout the New Testament, the apostles often made statements such as, “I am writing to remind you.” The apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Keep reminding God’s people of these things” (2 Timothy 2:14). Peter wrote to his readers: “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2 Peter 3:1). They knew the power in remembering the right things. They knew that when you remember what God has said and done, it will transform your thinking and your life. They knew that it’s so easy to put our minds on autopilot and forget all His benefits. We have to know that there’s transforming power in our remembrances, especially during times of difficulty.
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to take time out from their busy schedules seven times a year to celebrate a variety of national festivals, which were times of remembrance marked by thanksgiving and joyous feasting. This wasn’t optional. He required His people to regularly take time and pause to remember and celebrate the miracles and the marvelous deeds He had done on their behalf.
Do you know why He wanted them to do that? Because they were a lot like us today. We get busy doing life, struggling so hard to make things happen every day, that we tend to forget what’s more important than all that. We forget Who’s in control. We forget Who we can depend on to make things happen. We forget Who can do things that we can’t do. We even forget the miracles that God has done in our lives—how He’s worked in our lives, our victories, our successes, the good times—and we get stuck in negativity.
God wants you to remember the good, what He has done for you and in your life. When you remember the good, it helps you through the tough times. He wants you to move forward today. Use the power of remembrance to strengthen your faith and help you get through.