Daily Word: Remembering the Right Memories

Psalm 77:11 says: I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. (NKJV) The Hebrew word for remember is zakar and it means to mark or mention. Our memory of events can influence how we handle the present. The marking or mentioning can be demoralizing and defeating when the emphasis is on the negative events in our lives. This includes not giving someone the benefit of the doubt because of a memory you have about a past experience with that person. Do you see how what you remember can impact your present? Further, you can understand how a memory can influence your future. A negative memory about a person or place could help determine your future dealings with others. We need to make sure that we do not allow negative thoughts about past events control us. Today is a new day and the past does not control it.

Today's verse is about remembering the works of the Lord. The Hebraic approach to the present is to focus on the past. It is like rowing a boat. When you row a boat, you look where you have been as you move forward to new waters. Hebraically, you do the same thing. You remember the faithfulness of God to the Israelites, to your family, or to yourself as you face the encounters of life. Your focus is on the positive attributes of God's character and not the failures of men (including yourself). We read passages of Scripture and sometimes forget that they are real stories. Think you are having a bad day? Have you been tossed into a fiery furnace or thrown to the lions? Has anyone beat you with a whip and left you in a dungeon? Anyone thrown rocks at you yet? As we remember God's faithfulness with real people, we can take comfort in that the God of yesterday is also the God of today.

Today, remember the past times of faithfulness of God. Write them on a card and carry them with you. During the day, pause and read them over. As you do this exercise, you will find that your memory of a faithful God is improving. Now, go ahead and row, the water is not that rough.