The Journey Readings: Week 72... and... remember to remember...

I approached the reading of the Psalms this last week a little differently... I asked Him to provide a theme... a single lesson to learn from the psalms read... and He did...

Psalm 77... the first psalm read in Week 71...

I earnestly remember God; I am disquieted and I groan;

I muse in prayer, and my spirit faints [overwhelmed].

Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Psalm 77:3 Amp

The psalmist... in the midst of a very difficult... trying... time... earnestly remembers God...

remember... to bring to mind or think of again... to keep in mind for attention or consideration... to retain in the memory... record, commemorate...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

To remember God... His character... His wonders of old... His works and mighty deeds (both past and present)... is an important part of our faith journey... an essential spiritual discipline...

This is no casual remembrance... it is an exercise in meditation... an earnest... intentional... recollection... of who He is... and all He's done in the past...

Remembering Him... in the midst of crisis... protects us from our own imagination... and its tendency to play the What if...? game...
What if the worst happens...?
What if it's terminal...?
What if we lose everything...?

Remembering Him... His deeds... His wonders... keeps us steadfast in the storm... and bold in the day of battle...

Another important aspect of remembering... is teaching...

Teaching the next generation to remember... who He is...

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable 

(in instruction by numerous examples);

I will utter dark sayings of old [that hide important truth]---

Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children, but we will tell

to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

His might, and the wonderful works that He has performed.

Psalm 78:1-4 Amp

Teaching the next generation to know and remember Him... protects them from rebellion... keeps them close to Him... focused on Him... instead of the world...

If the next generation doesn't know who He is... or what He does... they will not know Him to be trustworthy... they will not know He is personal and active in their lives...

The psalms record... commemorate... the need to remember... to remember...

Join along in The Journey readings... find what you need to remember... to stay faithful...

This week's readings...
Monday               Psalm 87-88
Tuesday               Psalm 89
Wednesday          Psalm 90-91
Thursday             Psalm 92-94
Friday                 Psalm 95-97

more from the psalms...

The reading through of the Psalms... has me recognizing a shift in my spirit...

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it]

and He will sustain you...

Psalm 55:22 Amp

Following a stormy night...

a 5 1/2 hour power outage...

an out of sorts morning...

and a trip to the dentist...

I recognize a peace... a lack of anxiety... which I would have had to battle... as little as a year ago...

Have I learned... to cast my burden on Him...?

In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise,

In God have I put my trust and confident reliance;

I will not be afraid.

Psalms 56:10-11 Amp

Have I grown... in my ability to trust Him...?

For You have delivered my life from death, yes,

and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God

in the light of life and of the living.

Psalm 56:13 Amp

Do I understand... more fully what He has done for me...? His love...? His eternal perspective...?

I wonder at my heart resonating with these words... His Words...

I thank Him... and praise Him... for working in me... for His patience... with me...

I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great,

reaching to the heavens,

and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 57:9-10 Amp

Amen...