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The Battle to Remind

 Hope Weekly - February 3, 2014

I think we often underestimate the power of remembering. Think of how important it is for parents to remember and celebrate a child’s birthday or how important it is to remember your anniversary.

You hear stories of how world class athletes will spend hours before a big event rehearsing in their minds how they practiced the perfect play, the perfect jump, or remind themselves of how to catch the game winning throw from the quarterback.

Musicians, before a performance, will close their eyes and review each note and literally perform the entire performance in their mind before they go on stage.

Remembering is important. It’s essential for performing well and preparing your mind for excellence.

Another reason remembering is important is because we have an enemy. We have an enemy who loves to do battle and his favorite battleground is in our minds.

I have to confess that many times I have lost this battle and have allowed the enemy to whisper lies that were not true. Instead of believing the promises of God and being washed, comforted, and secured by THE WORD, I have succumb to the whispering lies of the enemy.

Remembering is important – but it absolutely essential for God’s children!

I want to share with you a devotion from John Piper at desiringgod.org that appeared a couple of weeks ago that dealt with the issue of remembering.

Enjoy.

The Battle to Remind

This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end… (Lamentations 3:21–22)

One of the great enemies of hope is forgetting God’s promises. Reminding is a great ministry. Peter and Paul wrote for this reason (2 Peter 1:13; Romans 15:15).

The main reminder is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). But don’t be passive. You are responsible only for your own ministry of reminding. And the first one in need of reminding by you is you.

The mind has this great power: It can talk to itself by way of reminder. The mind can “call to mind.” For example, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (Lamentations 3:21–22).

If we don’t “call to mind” what God has said about himself and about us, we languish. O how I know this from painful experience! Don’t wallow in the mire of godless messages. I mean the messages in your own head. “I can’t . . .” “She won’t . . .” “They never . . .” “It has never worked . . .”

The point is not that these are true or false. Your mind will always find a way to make them true, unless you “call to mind” something greater. God is the God of the impossible. Reasoning your way out of an impossible situation is not as effective as reminding your way out of it.

Without reminding ourselves of the greatness and grace and power and wisdom of God, we sink into brutish pessimism. “I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you” (Psalms 73:22).

The great turn from despair to hope in Psalm 77 comes with these words: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds” (Psalms 77:11–12).

This is the great battle of my life. I assume yours too. The battle to remind! Myself. Then others.

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Pastor Brian

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