Memory is a funny thing. We can forget the name of the person we just met at a dinner party but still remember the theme song to our favorite childhood cartoon show. We can describe with exact detail the outfit we were wearing on our first day on the job, but we can’t recall the bullet points we stayed up late last night studying for the upcoming presentation.
Our limited memory doesn’t always work in our favor, but the all-knowing Lord is not confined to our human tendencies to forget. Nothing gets past Him, and nothing is lost on Him.
When the Bible speaks of God remembering something or not remembering something, it’s not because He is prone to forget, much like we forget someone’s birthday or an appointment on the calendar. The Hebrew word used for God’s remembrance in the Old Testament is zakar, which means that He calls something to mind.
What God chooses to call to mind and what He opts to forget may surprise us. Throughout Scripture, we discover a merciful God who intentionally chooses to not call to mind our wrongdoings. He is all-knowing, and yet, time and time again He lovingly forgets the sins of those who humbly turn to Him. In fact, just like the distance from the east to the west is infinite, so is the immeasurable expanse of the Lord’s forgiveness for those who cry out to Him (Psalm 103:11–12).
Sometimes, trusting in God’s mercy is easier said than done. When faced with our sins, regret quickly snowballs into shame, and we carry the weight of our wrongs like a growing cancer in our hearts. We call to mind our iniquity, instead of resting in the mercy of a God who does not, and it sabotages everything from our sense of self to our relationships with others to our perception of purpose, and most importantly, our worship of Jesus.
In these moments when we are grappling with our moral failures and sinful tendencies, we need look no further than Jesus to remember what God has chosen to forget. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate expression of God’s mercy towards us. He willingly bore the weight and penalty of our sins, so that we might become benefactors of grace. There is no wrongdoing too evil, no sin too deplorable, no rebellion too wicked for God to choose to forget. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.
As you reflect on today’s reading, choose to remember what God calls to mind as He thinks of you. Remember His forgiveness. Remember His mercy. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His love for you. Let your remembrance lead you to repentance. Confess your sins, and receive His mercy. Acknowledge your continual need for Him, and rely on His goodness. He is not the God who holds grudges and keeps records of wrongs; He is the Lord of faithful love and abundant compassion (Psalm 51:1).
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40 thoughts on "God, Remember Not Our Sin"
There is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.
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Sorry for the late post. Prayers for my sister please! She was doing so good after her heart surgery on Monday. Today she was short of breath. They did a scan and found 2 small emboli in her lungs. Will scan her legs tomorrow. She was immediately started on heparin. Her daughter (an only child) is with her tonight and very concerned. Thank you precious SRT sisters❤
Happy Friday shes. What a wise and wonderful devotional we have today. So many wisdom and emotional processes were discussed today, and I love it. Sins have so much side effects: the hidden ones are the deadly ones…guilt, shame, condemnation that can linger . And what wisdom RHONDA J, God forgets but people remember! and sometimes things were brought up..and the wounds were re-lived afresh. May I not do this to myself and others (especially my husband, I have supernatural recall ability when it comes to my husband lol, may God deliver me, Lord I repent). I really love how MICHELLE P speaking grace to the past, that is a powerful exercise, speaking grace to the 18 year old me who didn’t know better. There’s no need holding on to so much negative baggage of ourselves and others. God does not keep records of wrongs, and we shouldn’t either. The Lord Himself is able to help us to release the past, and set boundaries in our mind, not to call to mind. May God give us mental strength and mental clarity when it comes to conscience, and sin conscience, that we are set free. May our thoughts be filled with His beautiful promises, the-best-is-yet-to-come thoughts, with praise and thanksgiving and innocence like of a child. Lifting prayers along our she’s. Be blessed dear sisters.
That is so beautiful and moving!
Wow I have never thought about how God intentionally chooses to not call to mind our sin any longer. He is of course aware of it but once we are believers of Jesus, He no longer chooses to call to mind our sin. We are made clean by our Savior.
Thank You Lord for Your divine plan. Thank You for caring so much about me that You choose to no longer call to mind my sin.
Praise be to God!
Michelle Patire, thank you for those wise words today, I needed to hear them. ❤️. Rachel, Thanksgiving for early detection and that all is well. Rhonda, wise words about the incarcerated. I was involved in ministry for almost 3yrs in men’s medium security. They too wanted to know and believe that they too were forgiven. It’s a powerful ministry as you know well. God bless you. Reading Psalm 25:7 is easy, believing is hard, I say that for myself. Prayers sisters for needs and concerns.
@Searching ❤️❤️❤️ same to you!
@Theresa D – thank you for sharing your heart. I believe the Lord starts to give us new strength in obedience when we make confession. Praying for your return to church and peace as you submit to God’s will. :)
@Kris – ❤️ love your reflections, truly. I feel so much like you, in some ways…how you ponder and walk with Jesus. I love it!
@Rhonda J- love reading your updates with jail ministry ❤️ always touching to hear how God is moving in that and through your life.
Traci G & anyone else struggling to forgive your past mistakes…
Something I have been recently practicing is sitting before the Lord and speaking grace to my past.
I literally just say, “God, I am acknowledging this sin from my past. I know that you have forgiven me, but I release the shame of this situation. You died on the cross to remove our shame, too, not just our sin.”
It says in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him (relationship with us!!) And “despised the shame” of the cross. Jesus did not die for just your sin, but the shame it brings. He removed those fig leaves in the garden and clothed Adam & Eve with righteousness (the animal skin representing the clothing of righteousness Jesus’s sacrifice would later bring). Traci G, anyone else, you are freed from that shame!! Don’t let it hold you back. Look at it, look at God, and say “Shame off me, I am beloved and forgiven. I wear new clothing!” You are clothed in the garments of salvation. Remember that and be free, friend.
God bless you and love each one of you! ❤️
Thank you for praying for my procedure yesterday! I did end up having a good~sized polyp that has been sent for pathology. Grateful that they changed the recommendations for screening…I’m 48, and had I waited 2 more years to the old standard of 50 at first screening, it would have been growing that much longer. So here’s your PSA to remember to get your innards checked ;) KRIS, I loved your comment and your straightforward way of listening to your spirit/emotions/sin and dealing with with them immediately in prayer. Not easy to face our sins (or the sins committed against us) and yet such a simple, life-giving solution. ❤️
“Trusting in Gods mercy is easier said than done”- because we are human this revelation hits home BUT the GOD I know is doing something new!!! Todays reading also takes me back to the beginning in Leviticus 20:26 “you are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and have set you apart from the nations to be mine” . We MUST model our behavior around that of Jesus. God chose us, he gave us His son for our sins- we are set apart, we are forgiven and we are made new each day!! Praise God!!! Happy Friday She’s! My prayer is that we each get the opportunity to share of Gods forgiveness to someone this weekend! ☮️❤️
God has “chosen” to forget. Thank you Jesus! Love, love, love this devo this morning. WE are SO hard on ourselves. ME included. I play things over and over in my head, BUT GOD…Our precious JESUS, chooses to forget. NOW, that’s our Father God, our sweet Jesus. Love you all to the moon and back…forever.. Thank you all for praying for regarding testing the little kinders. Other then 2 absent I’m done with the current test and moving on to the next. I was able get-it-down. Thank you. I’m SO relieved.
Ever had one of those days where you realize at the end all the areas you missed? That was me yesterday. As I went to bed, I was overcome with a sense of failure and condemnation. I cried out to God for His forgiveness and help. I reminded myself that condemnation does not come from God.
This lesson was just what I needed today. Because I woke up feeling at the age of 67 that I was pretty much messing up in my walk with Christ! BUT God, reminded me that He is a loving Father who corrects His children and pulls us close to Him in love!
God is good and faithful to us! So thankful for His mercy and grace.
Praying for all of you today. Know God loves you with an everlasting love.
THERESA – Good news about Arno! I know how hard it is to have your children go through surgeries and I’m glad we could all lift you up in prayer.
MIA – You are in my heart and prayers. Losing a child is so very painful.
Ah memory…I have a good one…
Why can’t I let things go. Forgive and forget. The forgetting is the hard part. I’m ashamed of that especially when we have a Father that forgets as far as the east is from the west. If He can forgive me all I’ve done in my younger years; why can I not forget those that have wronged me. It is so wrong on my part.
He is not the God who holds grudges and keeps records of wrongs; He is the Lord of faithful love and abundant compassion.
I love “as far as the east is from the west”. Have you ever looked at a globe? You can go east and keep going east and never run into west. But you can’t go north forever without eventually heading south.
I know scripture says to not remember the sins of the past, but the LORD has been walking me thru some healing in the past couple years from events in my past. He has gently brought up past sins because He wanted to heal me and help me to forgive myself and the other people involved. I live in a quiet neighborhood and walk my dog quite frequently. During those early morning or late evening walks, I talk with God. That is when He often brings up some painful memory – not to condemn me, but to bring healing to that part of my heart. He will let me feel the pain of that particular situation, but then as soon as I ask Him to forgive me, and help me forgive either myself or the other person, that sin no longer holds emotional pain. That’s when I know I am healed.
So if a particular “sin” is haunting your mind, maybe it’s God trying to help you bring healing and forgiveness to that situation. It doesn’t have to be big or complicate, just ask Him to forgive you, ask Him to bring healing and restoration to you and anyone else involved. And let Him wash His forgiveness all over you. Then you can put that sin behind you, and God forgets all about it.
So good!❤️ “choose to remember what God calls to mind as He thinks of you.” He is not the God who holds grudges and keeps records of wrongs; He is the Lord of faithful love and abundant compassion (Psalm 51:1). Holding this close today! Praying for all you SRT gals! So grateful for this community!
I am so thankful that God is not keeping a list of all my sins, bad attitude, selfishness, hurtful actions, and worse…(too unforgivable to share here) are my actions…thankfully He CHOOSES to not recall once I came to Him and accepted Jesus in a new and profound way. It brings to mind our new “girl” that came into jail. She said right away as she was crying..”I’m the one you have heard about, I’m the one..on the news.” She was wearing the shame all over her face and she came into jail fearful of other inmates that would shame her as well. I have often said that my sins are too great that I don’t even share..I did for the very first time just a few weeks ago with my friend thats I spoke of in liver failure…and told her, it is so socially frowned upon that I would be treated differently…yes by Christians mainly..and even though I know God forgives me and erases it, people remember those things. My heart hurts for the women in jail because their actions will not be forgotten by their families, it is forever marked and the scars will be there ever present and have to be constantly overcome. Could they be why it’s so hard to change, they get out, and try to forget the shame they feel from others and take the drugs again? Can we be more forgiving as Christians? Yes, we have to remember we too were there in our pits BEFORE God forgave us and wiped us clean. And then, stubborn people like me…repeated and repeated those mistakes again. I am so thankful He doesn’t have a 3 and done or something like that, 3 strikes you are out. No, he forgives us 77 x 7 and then? I like that jail ministry helps me to love on those that don’t feel love. Usually they cherish the hug and the love, and empathy that we show them. Why can’t I do that with my sourly neighbors I don’t “like?” Turn the other cheek, we learned that as kids, yet so hard to do.
Thank you for all the wonderful Birthday wishes, you all made me feel special. As you get older, the birthdays are much smaller and without all the to do. At least in my case,..eventually they will be big again the older I get I presume. My dad has an 80th next month and we will all gather to celebrate!
Teresa, thanks for sharing, and I pray you will get to that church THIS Sunday and not delay! We moved to Florida right before Covid hit, and I had made it clear to my hubby I wanted to find a church here and make the effort to plug in. After covid and I started pushing, the devil literally brought out an argument every week that would sideline the effort. Finally I went by myself, or called a friend to go! That was 2 years ago and I have grown more than ever through that church and with the serving opportunities and small groups and new friendships! It has been nothing short of amazing…So Go! lol. We need to be plugged in with like minded..Soon we are going to be a small remnant!
And I think it’s time to put on our Warrior Boots! (Which is the new study my group starts this week!) If you want to be a part or get some little snippets from the book, friend me on FB and I am posting about it every Friday! (today!! is chapt 1 recap!!)
How do my post go on and on??? Sorry…!! :/
Prayers for Arlo…and all the prayer requests!!!
I am so thankful that God chooses not to remember my sin. He has been so faithful to me and shown me such mercy. He has brought me from the out of shame, guilt, and condemnation to a place of honor: a daughter of the Most High. Throughout my life, I carried so much shame with me for the craziness of my teenage years and the poor choices I made that were so not aligned with God’s will. On top of my own condemnation, I was severely bullied in HS by older girls (partly due to my poor choices). I carried that shame, pain, and loneliness into my adult life, effecting relationships with others because I didn’t trust anyone and God forbid they learned of my past, they would never accept me. Like Tina says, BUT GOD… he worked on me for years, bringing people around me who ministered to me, His Word became my healing balm, He showed me in so many ways how He loves me and wants me to let go on my past. He is so so good!
Katie – praying for your surgery.
Teresa – I got away from church during covid and finally made it back. You will too!
Maria B – praying for your interview
Theresa – praying that Arlo’s pain in manageable
Prayers for other requests also. Thank you for your prayers for Chela – the last few days we have seen a miraculous change in her – a light to her that we haven’t seen in a while. Praise God!
As far as the East is from the West…I can forgive easily, but I don’t forget. Funny how I can forget so many other things though. Our memories are so precious, yet they can be painful as they recall past hurts and injustices. I’m thankful for My God Who forgives me and remembers no more. Oh what a blessing to be loved like that.
Praying for your requests!
How beautiful devotional and how important is to remember and preach the gospel to ourselves everyday!!
Oh, my. Hubby and I had an argument the other night, and I thought he had behaved badly. (He. So. Did.) He recognized it and apologized the next morning. I accepted his apology and made the comment “so far as the east is from the west, I guess”. A couple days later, I am still a bit sad and angry. Have I really forgotten? I don’t think so. (Correction… I KNOW I haven’t forgotten.)
Aren’t we glad, sweet sisters, that He remembers our sins no more? Such a timely lesson for me. We have burdened Him with our sins and wearied Him with our offenses. Ouch. But He forgets them.
Wow. Just. Wow.
Thank you for the update, THERESA. Praise Him, and continued prayers are being lifted for ARMY’S recovery. (Heeheehee, CEE GEE!)
Praying for your surgery today, KATIE MEGEE. Please give us an update, as soon as you are able.
Blessed Friday to all!
MARIA B – thank you for your testimony, praying for job interview
FOSTER MAMA – praying for financial provision and guidance to the right home for your goddaughter and her mom
The mercy of God in forgiveness, and in choosing to not recall those forgiven sins. May I always turn to and call on Him.
One thing that came to mind in reading today’s Scriptures and yesterday’s comments is the recognition of sin by us, the sinners. Evil slithers in as maybe a random thought, tries to take root in preparation to take over our minds and hearts. As I’m thinking about my loved ones that are not following the Lord, and reading about yours – how does this happen? Remembering, as SHARON JERSEY GIRL reminded me, of the pit the Lord rescued me from many years ago. By letting a thought take root or following someone’s suggestion, ignoring the knowledge that I should not do something and doing it anyway – our consciences become seared to the point that we refuse to recognize sin for what it is, and can’t see our way out of that pit – if we even recognize that we’re in one. Praying for prodigal children and family members as I think back to requests over this and past studies, those loved ones in need of salvation and healing from addictions and mental illness – TERRI, MIA FAITH and many others.
RHONDA J and KRISITINE LOUGHMAN’s daughter – belated happy birthday ❤️
TERESA DONLEY – praying for an encouraging visit to this new church
CATHERINE MCVEY – good to see you
MICHELLE PATIRE ❤️ such a gift for prayer, I’m always touched by yours
MARI V – praying for you as you continue settling into your job
JM – praying for healing of your infertility
KATIE MCGEE – praying for successful surgery today
TAMI C – praying that Chela will feel the love God has for her and turn to Him, that she will overcome and be healed from anxieties and worries.
RACHEL – praying your procedure goes well today with good results
JULIA C – thank you for the Psalm 23 breakdown and focus yesterday ❤️
CEE GEE – yes, surely God is smiling and pleased as we gather each day to seek and honor Him! Will look up that song ❤️
THERESA – I typed ‘Arlo’!!! Maybe he will get a chuckle from auto correct naming him ‘Army’!
How blessed we are that God chooses to remember us, and He also chooses to remember our sin no more! Once we sincerely confess our sin to Him we are free to choose not to remember it and not let it become a barrier in our relationship with our God and Savior.
TERESA DONLEY – agreeing with Mary’s (and other SHES) prayers for you and your husband in finding a church home. I know that feeling very well. ❤
THERESA – Thankful Armies surgery went well and continued prayers for healing time. ❤
MARIA B – Prayers for your interview today! ❤
KATIE MEGEE – Praying for you and your medical team today and through your recovery and for comfort and peace that you know could only be from our Heavenly Father. Please update when you can. Sending hugs! ❤
SEARCHING – ❤
DONNA WOLCOTT ❤
RHONDA J – ❤
MARIA B, praying your request.
Echoing also the prayers, requests, and support needed for many ongoing challenges along our roads….happy to be on this journey with you all.
Oh Lord you are gracious and remember your son’s sacrifice rather than my sin. How quickly I turn from my own sin and forget. Yet I’m not always as quick to forget how I’ve been wronged. Lord help draw my attention to where I need to remember, confess and rest in your forgiveness to remind me I have no more right to hold on to wrong done to me than you do towards me!
Katie Megee praying for your procedure today!
MARIA B- praying for your job interview today. Asking God to give you peace, calm your nerves, and give you the words to say.
KATIE MEGEE-praying for your surgery today.
Thank you for your prayers, shes, for Arlo and our family. His surgery yesterday was successful and although he was definitely feeling uncomfortable throughout the day, we were able to keep his pain under control. Please continue to send those prayers our way, as the doctor said day 2 and 3 are usually the toughest for pain.
As I was praying, the Lord put it on my heart that when we forgive (or don’t forgive), we too can forget or remember the sin against us. God is modeling forgiveness to us. It’s not that we have amnesia to what happened, but we can actively choose to forgive, to not dwell on it, to move on.
I love this explanation of God remembering or forgetting…calling to mind. Much easier to understand than the misunderstanding that our great God is forgetful. Although I’ve known this, this devotional was very well worded and helpful when explaining to someone who doesn’t understand.
Maria, praying for peace and a clear mind going into this interview. May the Lord place you in the perfect job where you can be successful and he can use you for his glory!
Marie, lifting you in prayer as you walk into your interview today! May you feel peace and confidence. You have prayed for the right job and the Lord will provide.
Good morning TINA (thank you for your sweet words the other day) and all my beautiful sisters!!
I am again in a period of getting a bit behind on the readings and barely getting through a few comments….but I AM praying and thinking of you all!!
(Challenges are continuing with goddaughter and her mom; she has her hopes up for an apartment March 1 but hasn’t gathered everything yet…not sure how she will handle it if she does not get the apartment — which honestly is TOO expensive for her but she’s desperate to leave current home.)
I’m enjoying this study and had really missed the meditations!!
May I share something with you about how I love how God works? Yesterday, this part of yesterday’s devotional stuck with me: the author wrote that when she felt like God wasn’t answering her “Then I remembered that I don’t have the whole story, but He does. He has met our greatest need for a Savior; won’t He also deal with our present troubles?”
Not sure why that stuck with me, even as I was getting ready for work. All I know is that on the way to work, a dear friend called me and shared that she was having a hard time with her faith because her cousin (who I gather was like a brother to her), a man who loved God, died of cancer. And it ravaged him. And through the end, he continued to praise God. In her mind, this was hard to comprehend— why God let him endure that agony? And as I wondered how to answer, this portion of yesterday’s devotional came to my heart, and we were able to chat about it and how she is feeling. I am so thankful that God equipped me early in the day with the words I would need later. And more importantly, I feel I gave my dear friend a bit of peace and a reminder of where to go to when she feels like that— the Word of God.
She’s, if I can for your prayers today. I have a job interview that I’m excited for, but also (as with any interview) nervous about doing good. My personal prayer has been for God to put me in a job that not only He know I can do, but also where He wants me to be. So sisters, I humble ask for your prayers that the initial interview goes well. Thank you!
Thank you for your continuous mercy even when we do not deserve it. May we always rest in the knowledge that you chose what to remember about each and everyone one of us, Father. Amen.
What does God call to mind as He thinks of me? My greatest desire is for it to be “faithful servant.”
KATIE MEGEE – praying all goes well with your surgery today.
As far as the East is from the west… I remember encountering this verse as a child and trying to wrap my mind around it. It’s like trying to understand infinity… our minds skid along the idea and can’t quite touch down. Now, rivers in a desert, this I can visualize. A river in a dry desert, parched and desperate for water… that river would be an unstoppable torrent, overtaking everything. And then, after the surge (sometimes violet, sometimes a painful reckoning) ah…. New life would spring up along that river. Thanks be to God, who brings life to this parched and weary soul.
KATIE MEGEE – Praying for your surgery today. May God heal you and bring you peace ❤️
TERESA DONLEY – Praying that you find a new church home ❤️
RHONDA J – Happy belated birthday sister. I hope you had a good one❤️
CAROL H – Praying for your son with drug addiction. May God heal him ❤️
SHARON, JERSEY GIRL – Praying for you two prodigals ❤️
ADRIENNE – ❤️
TERRI – Praying for your son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. May they remember God ❤️
RACHEL – I hope all went well ❤️
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN – Good to see you! Praying God’s peace over you ❤️
“Throughout Scripture, we discover a merciful God who intentionally chooses to not call to mind our wrongdoings.”
What? How? Why? I cannot wrap my mind around this.
Spurgeon was right in saying “the best way to make a man keep a law is to make him love the law-giver.” I remember You and Your faithful love with a grateful heart, Father.
“See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”.
We are living in fulfilled promises… These are the days we’ve been dreamin’ of!
(Lauren Daigle – These are the days)
Dear Father,
We are living under the New Covenant.
Because of your infinite love and mercy — that goes beyond all understanding— we can come to you, confess our sins and receive your mercy and forgiveness.
Thank you Lord for your abundant compassion!
I echo Nicole Smithee’s prayer: may we acknowledge our continual need for you and rely on your goodness.
AMEN.