Use the Power of Remembrance

Perhaps over the past few days you’ve had some negative things happen to you that you tucked away in the treasury of your heart and tried to forget. Maybe a loved one said something unkind that offended you, or you bumped into someone from the past and were reminded of how they always made you feel like you were not good enough. Have you noticed how those same negative thoughts subtly break back into your thinking again and again and make you feel sad, worried, angry, depressed? Maybe those 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 what’s good and positive. 

The writers of the Scripture knew that there’s transforming power in remembering the right things, especially during times of difficulty. They often made statements such as, “I am writing to remind you.” The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Keep reminding God’s people of these things” (2 Timothy 2:14). Peter wrote, “Dear friends, I have written two letters to you as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2 Peter 3:1). These writers knew that it’s so easy to put our minds on autopilot and allow negative thoughts to play over and over. When you remember what God has said and done, it will transform your thinking and your life.  

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—delivering them from slavery, parting the Red Sea, bringing water out of a rock, and on and on.  

Why did God want them to do that? Because they were a lot like us today. We get so busy doing life, working so hard to make things happen every day, that we tend to forget what’s more important than all that. We forget that God is in control. We forget we can depend on Him to make things happen. We forget He can do things that we can’t do. We even forget the miracles that He has done, how He’s worked in our life—our victories, our successes, the good times—and we get stuck in negativity. 

God wants you to remember the good, all that He has done for you. When you remember the good, you rule your thoughts and attitudes. Use the power of remembrance to strengthen your faith and prevent negative thoughts from holding you back.