Within God's Kingdom, remembering takes on a whole new dynamic. For us, remembering comes in two forms. First, it's about remembering our past in light of God's work. That's the first part of it.
"Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced." Psalm 105:5
We need to remember what and how he has done things in our lives. We need to remember the miracles, the provision, the words, the relationships and yes, we need to be mindful of his judgments. God judges his people through discipline and love. He judges our flesh and cleanses us from sin through discipline.
"But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:31,32
"For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17
We need to remember what the Lord has taken us through, what he has changed in us and how bad it sometimes hurt. We need not repeat the same mistakes and slow down our development. We need to remember what has taken place in context of our relationship with the Lord. Sometimes for me, the easiest way for me to remember is to both talk to the Lord and ask him to remind me. And with that, sometimes the way he reminds us is through each other. I am often spurred in my memory by conversations with my close friends and with my wife. We need to sit down with others, specifically with our spouses, have a cup of joe-joe and prayerfully talk about the past. This helps us to remember. This is the first aspect of "remembering."
But in God's kingdom their is a second aspect of remembering. This is the one I am eager to discuss. Let me tell you a story.
In August of 1997 I found myself being moved by the Lord to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While doing so I went to re-register my car insurance with a state of NM insurance agent. When they processed my application they told me that my insurance would run a certain amount a month. I felt that the quote was a little to high for the make and model of my car. The lady at the insurance agency explained to me that the reason the quote was higher than normal was that I had had two speeding tickets in the past few years. I told her that there must be some mistake, that I could only remember having one speeding ticket in the past several years, not two. She showed me the driving records and it stated that the second ticket was received in Plano, TX about 2 years before. I was a little perplexed as I couldn't remember when I had gotten this ticket.
I went home and prayed about it. I was standing between the dining room and the kitchen when all of the sudden I saw myself driving east bound on Plano Pkwy in Plano, TX during the summer of 1995. Right before I got to the Coit Rd. intersection I could see a police officer step out from behind the bushes on the south side of the road right in front of a real estate office and direct me into the parking lot where another officer would be waiting to write me a speeding ticket. All of the sudden, I remembered. I remembered when and how it happened. The Holy Spirit reminded me by spurring my memory. The Holy Spirit wants to control and directs all data storage in our brains and he can draw up memories as it serves the Lord's purpose for our lives. Why do you think the scriptures say the following?
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26
The Holy Spirit reminds us. We remember, by the Spirit. We hear God's voice at times simply by remembering something. Remembering is a way of God talking to us in the present moment. Let me give you two examples in scripture of this happening to God's servants. Take a look.
"Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, 'You are spies!'" Genesis 42:8
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 11:15,16
By the Spirit we see Joseph, now Prime Minister of Egypt, remembering his dreams so he has an understanding of why he is finally seeing his brothers after all these years. He remembered his dreams and saw them bowing before him as a fulfillment of what God had once spoken to him over twenty years before. Joseph was remembering by the Spirit. He heard the Spirit speaking to him through a spirit of remembrance.
By the Spirit we see Peter remembering what Jesus had once spoken to him in person. This gave him the understanding to be accepting of the situation which was the very fact that God was opening the door of faith to the Gentiles, specifically at Cornelius' house. God was moving around him and helped him to accept things by remembering what was once spoken to him. Peter remembered by the Spirit. He heard the Spirit speaking to him through a spirit of remembrance
Remembering is a way that God talks to his people. We pray and then remember where we set our car keys. We remember that we forgot to lock the front door before driving to the store. We remember to pray for someone who is having surgery today. We remember, we remember, we remember. God speaks to us and we remember. He reminds us.
Ask the Lord to help you remember. And as you remember, pay attention and rejoice. This is God's voice. Remember.
Be Blessed,
JEB
http://www.miraclesinmerida.blogspot.com/.
