Remember!

Remember!

I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old. I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds. Psalm 77: 11‭-‬12 AMPC

The Context and Focus:

There are times when worry and anxiety grip the heart. There are times when situations and circumstances around me may cause my heart to be heavy. Sin has changed the landscape and has given the devil the room to operate. The systems of the world are within his influence, and he will do all he can to distress, distract and destroy; after all, that is his modus operandi: to steal, kill and destroy. As long as I remain human, on this side of eternity, I cannot totally escape the evidence of the devil's activities. We see these all around us: sickness, disease, wars, famine,  pestilence and many others. Some of these things are direct consequences of our own actions and inactions sometimes. Now, I can sit down and grumble like so many will do today, or,  like the writer of this psalm, I can cry out to God for help. There is no fence here or any opportunity to be indifferent. Life will throw things at me, and it will demand a response. How would I respond?

The Message:

As always, there is an action required from me for every situation I face. The one who grumbles is limited to the now. He looks around and all he can see are the mountains and obstacles in the way. The one who grumbles is unable to look back and consider the past acts of God. He is also unable to look ahead, to consider the amazing nature of God and his ability and capacity to do all He has promised. Seeing only the now will lead to depression, because there is really nothing encouraging about what is going on around us. Men's decisions and actions have ripple effects all over the world, and in one way or another, we are all affected. However, limiting myself only to the now is a problem. The writer of this psalm was in present distress, but he was careful to see God's hand from the past, reaching out to the present, and offering hope for the future. How do you see? What are you seeing right now? As I consider the present, I also remember the mighty acts of God in the past, and they offer hope for the future. 

The Conclusion:

I do not ignore the present, but I am not going to be limited by what my eyes can see now. One reason why I can recall the deeds of the Lord is because I noted them down. Another reason would also be that another person recounted his/her account of God's dealings in the past or present. People's testimonies provide words of encouragement for other people, giving hope that if God could solve this problem for one person, he could do the same for me too. I meditate on all of God's mighty deeds, mindful of his mighty power and awesome strength. What will I pass on to the children coming after me, if there are no records of God's dealings with me? How do I offer words of encouragement with practical examples if I have no personal encounters I can share? Why would God be so focused on Israel writing his words on their doorposts, except that He wanted them to always keep Him front and center of thier lives?  I must never forget, and I must ensure that I keep the knowledge of God alive for my children and the generation coming after me. Men must see and know the mighty God I have. God's time of favour is here.