Remember!

I will remember the works of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

Psalm 77:11

Many times in scripture, God's people are commanded to remember God's miraculous works for them, as well as their own failings, so that they will trust Him and not repeat their sin.  The psalmists often bring to mind God's past goodness to encourage them in troubled times.  We humans tend to live very much in the moment -- whatever is going on right now is the determining factor in the state of our lives, which leads to a lot of frustration when the present situation is less than ideal.  Today's drudgery and tomorrow's unknown take center stage and throw us onto a downhill slope of plain ol' negativity.  It's hard to remember a time when we really enjoyed life.

So we have to be told to remember.  We've all seen God do amazing things in our lives, but the ecstatic moment passes and we're back to normal, wondering when God is going to show up and bless us.  Think again.  He already has.  Remember the day you were saved?  Or that extra cash at the right moment?  Or that time you should have died?  Or the friend you talked to just this morning?  Or the air you're breathing right now?  Yes, God is good.  But we forget.

This week marked one year since my epic lost-and-found experience.  I saw God at work in dozens of amazing ways in less than twenty-four hours last April, but since then, I haven't always remembered God's goodness, even though He has continued to bless me, day after "ordinary" day.  I have so much to thank Him for, not just that I'm not still wandering in the woods somewhere, but that He has given me everything I need and more.  God, help me to remember You!

His divine power has given us

everything we need for life and godliness

through our knowledge of Him

who called us by His own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3