Don't Forget to Remember: Psalm 78

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord…Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 78:4, 7

The older I get the more forgetful I become. Grocery lists are left at home, hair appointments are missed, sentences remain unfinished because the thought …what was I saying? Some forgetfulness is frustrating, some is disappointing, but some forgetfulness is dangerous!

 The writer of Psalm 78 warns of forgetting God. The people of Israel forgot God’s miraculous work, power and redemption. This forgetfulness led to a downward spiral. They disobeyed God’s Word, tested God, and complained against Him. Eventually, they failed to believe. Forgetfulness can be dangerous!

How do you and I remember God’s mighty deeds? First, we must consistently read and study the Bible. I had a lady tell me her life was changed after I spoke to her women’s group. She explained, “It was nothing you said. I looked at your Bible, and noticed it was falling apart. Mine was in great shape. I determined from that day on I would spend more time reading and studying my Bible.” The more we read and study the Bible, the more God’s truths are firmly planted in our minds and hearts. The more planted the truths are, the less we forget.

Another way I remember God’s work in my life is to journal. I don’t write daily, just periodically. How encouraging it is to read those journals. As I read of God’s faithfulness in my past, I gain confidence of His faithfulness in my present circumstance. As I read of His power displayed, I more clearly understand that the present crisis with the seemingly impossible solution is in the hands of the almighty God with whom nothing is impossible.

Knowing that forgetfulness leads to a downward spiritual spiral, what are you doing to implant in your heart and mind the unchanging character of God? What will you do to remember His former deeds, so you’re strengthened to trust Him today?

Jan