Humanity cries out and prays often, “Lord, remember me—save me!”  In moments of overwhelming struggle when we have attempted to do life alone without God; we use this word “remember” to ask God for favor and help in our dire circumstances that we most times have created for ourselves.  We even add; “Why me, Lord” when faced with perplexing struggles and increased pain while living in this imperfect, unfair, sin-filled world. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—Jesus, John 16:33

We who believe, know God and benefit from the Goodness of God; but we can also soon forget all He has done and is doing for us when we rebel by going our own way for a while thinking we can handle all of life without Him.  We “follow our noses” to what looks good, smells good, and tastes good like an animal who merely wants what they see as good. Animals will eat disgusting things when unbridled and unsupervised.  I know this because we have a Dachshund with a mind of his own but we care enough to reign him in when danger is seen or heard.  Over time and training, our dog ceases to go where he does not belong.  Mm, is there a lesson here?

Ah, but we humans with brains more advanced than animals have memory losses with untrained minds of God and all He has done for us.  These memory lapses easily lead to rebellion against the Owner of our souls, Creator of our being in His own image, Savior and Deliverer from our sins, and the Lord who leads in the ways we should go for our good and His glory!  We go our own way without God, forgetting that He delights in all the details of our lives and who loves to bless us with more than we deserve.  “Who can proclaim all His acts…?” the Psalmist reminds his readers and singers.

We are so fortunate to have a loving, faithful, patient, and compassionate God who does indeed remember us for we never left His mind when He sacrificed a part of Himself to save us from our sins!  We were on Jesus’ mind when He went to the cross willingly and obediently to sacrifice Himself for our sins. (Read that again.)  He truly could have called ten thousand angels to come to His rescue—but He did not.

God’s memory of who He created us to be and do is perfect in every way.  God has not forgotten us—Remember this truth.  It is also not God’s desire that we perish from His sight.  God desire is to lead us home, with His loving arms around our shoulders in a compassionate embrace where we belong—home is with Him.  There is no one like our God!  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” the Psalmist cries out in praise!  REMEMBER all God has done to bring you to where you are today in relationship with Him for this relationship is the most important one we will ever need and have for life! This relationship with God is forever for His love for us does not change.  To remember is to surrender to the One who never forgets and is faithful always.

Psalm 106, The Message

Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord
    or fully declare his praise?
³ Blessed are those who act justly,
    who always do what is right.

⁴ Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people,
    come to my aid when you save them,
⁵ that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
    that I may share in the joy of your nation
    and join your inheritance in giving praise.

⁶ We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;
    we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
⁷ When our ancestors were in Egypt,
    they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
    and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
⁸ Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
    to make his mighty power known.
⁹ He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
    he led them through the depths as through a desert.
¹⁰ He saved them from the hand of the foe;
    from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
¹¹ The waters covered their adversaries;
    not one of them survived.
¹² Then they believed his promises
    and sang his praise.

¹³ But they soon forgot what he had done
    and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
¹⁴ In the desert they gave in to their craving;
    in the wilderness they put God to the test.
¹⁵ So he gave them what they asked for,
    but sent a wasting disease among them.

¹⁶ In the camp they grew envious of Moses
    and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord.
¹⁷ The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
    it buried the company of Abiram.

Fire blazed among their followers;
    a flame consumed the wicked.
¹⁹ At Horeb they made a calf
    and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
²⁰ They exchanged their glorious God
    for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
²¹ They forgot the God who saved them,
    who had done great things in Egypt,
²² miracles in the land of Ham
    and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ So he said he would destroy them—
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him
    to keep his wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land;
    they did not believe his promise.
²⁵ They grumbled in their tents
    and did not obey the Lord.
²⁶ So he swore to them with uplifted hand
    that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
²⁷ make their descendants fall among the nations
    and scatter them throughout the lands.

²⁸ They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor
    and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
²⁹ they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds,
    and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
    and the plague was checked.
³¹ This was credited to him as righteousness
    for endless generations to come.
³² By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord,
    and trouble came to Moses because of them;
³³ for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,
    and rash words came from Moses’ lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples
    as the Lord had commanded them,
³⁵ but they mingled with the nations
    and adopted their customs.
³⁶ They worshiped their idols,
    which became a snare to them.
³⁷ They sacrificed their sons
    and their daughters to false gods.
³⁸ They shed innocent blood,
    the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
    and the land was desecrated by their blood.
³⁹ They defiled themselves by what they did;
    by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

⁴⁰ Therefore the Lord was angry with his people
    and abhorred his inheritance.
⁴¹ He gave them into the hands of the nations,
    and their foes ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them
    and subjected them to their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
    but they were bent on rebellion
    and they wasted away in their sin.
⁴⁴ Yet he took note of their distress
    when he heard their cry;
⁴⁵ for their sake he remembered his covenant
    and out of his great love he relented.
⁴⁶ He caused all who held them captive
    to show them mercy.

⁴⁷ Save us, Lord our God,
    and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.

⁴⁸ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Never, ever forget all that God has done, is doing and will do in our lives as we surrender to His will that is pleasing, perfect, and good in every way.  In the good times, praise His Name.  Even in the bad times, do the same!  God is Good, His love endures forever!

Blessings to Remember

• Forgiveness: Pardoning of past mistakes and shortcomings.  God forgives.
• Guidance: Directing your steps through uncertain times. Trust God’s Holy Spirit.
• Provision: Supplying daily strength, health, and needs. Trust God for it all.
• Presence: Remaining close when you feel alone. Be still and know God.

Ways to Keep Your Mind Focused

• Count all the blessings God has given daily in a quiet moment of prayer with a grateful heart.
• Daily give up our will for His will (Romans 12:1-2) Surrender leads us out of rebellion.
• Meditate on comforting, convicting, correcting verses that compel and train us to walk humbly with God.
• Sharing stories of past help from God with others—so they will know God!

Lord,

Thank you for drawing near to us and we draw near to you in surrender.  Teach me Your Word that strengthens my relationship with you.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, transform my being to be more like you in all that I think, say, and do, refresh my souls with your new mercies for today, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen