Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-9, Deuteronomy 4:32-39, Joshua 4:1-24, Psalm 143:4-6, Luke 22:14-20, 2 Peter 1:12
If you’ve ever loved someone with dementia, you know that my next statement is true: Their minds are like a lamp with a frayed electrical cord. Flip the switch and the light might flicker on once, twice, ten times, or even a thousand times. But then, there is a short circuit. You flip the switch, and there is only darkness as their memories grow dim or go dark completely.
It’s unthinkable that we could forget our spouse of fifty years, the babies we rocked, the grandchildren who first called us “Nana” or “Papa.” Except, sometimes we do. It is possible for the silhouettes of our very favorite faces to become fuzzy, for the memories of our very best days to drift out of reach.
God has always been good. He has always been faithful. We may meditate on His character once, ten times, or even a thousand, and see the light of truth flicker on in our hearts. But then, there is a short circuit. We simply forget who God truly is. Mustard-seed faith becomes too hard to muster up, and we can’t recall the memories of His kindness toward us. Our brokenness, it seems, has frayed our heartstrings. Spiritually speaking, all of God’s children are prone to forget what He has done. Through His Word, God shows us that remembrance isn’t passive. It’s not a fleeting memory or a fanciful notion. Remembrance is a verb, an action, a choice that allows us to hold tightly to the truth of who God is.
When God’s children crossed the Jordan into the land they’d long longed for, God commanded them to remember (Joshua 4). He ordered men to place stones on their shoulders. But these stones were not mere pebbles. They were stones of remembrance that required each man to stoop, to pick up, to haul their memories of what God could do.
When Jesus gathered with His disciples in the upper room on the eve of His crucifixion, He implemented a similar object lesson, an act to do “in remembrance” of Him (Luke 22:19). It’s hard to fathom that Christ’s friends could forget the sermons they’d heard delivered straight from the Son of God. Unthinkable that they’d ever deny that He was who He said He was. But they could. They did. In His mercy, Jesus was showing them (and through them, showing us), how to remember the things that matter most.
When the psalmist faced a dark night of the soul and struggled to see the light of hope, he defaulted to rhythms of remembrance: “I remember. I meditate. I reflect” (Psalm 143:4–5). As he reached for His memories of God’s deeds from the past, the light came back on.
We are people of faith with frayed cords. Until Christ’s return, we will always have moments of forgetfulness. But God has given us the tool we need to close the circuit again. We need only to “remember the LORD’s works” (Psalm 77:11).
Written by Erin Davis
Leave a Reply
98 thoughts on "Remembrance"
I recently learned about negativity bias—the human tendency to give more weight to negative experiences, information, or events than to positive ones. This is so true, at least for me. I am trying to be intentional about gratitude and in the moment thanking God for the small everyday favors. Remembering the past specific times God provided for/protected/blessed my family and me has been more challenging for me (except for the really significant ones). :/ I know I should have a gratitude/blessings journal to help with remembrance, but have yet to start.
There is definitely a tendency to do that, and I think it increases our worry and anxiety when we focus on the negative – I have to work on laying down those thoughts!
And today’s a great day to start that journal ❤️
Even if I forget everything else in this life, LORD, may I never forget you!
Remembrance. I truly need to mark it more. God has blessed me immensely many times throughout my life. Too many times to list here. But I love the idea of memorial stones to mark special times of God’s blessings.
Today, on this special day of remembrance for 9/11/2001, I was thinking of the thousands of people who died. What a sad, traumatic day that was! Then I remembered where I was and watching the second tower fall. I remember asking in that moment. “How many people just died?” We watched it happen. On a typical workday, approximately 50,000 people worked in those buildings. It occurred to me today that one of the huge miracles of that day is that many more thousands of people lived.
Joining you, sisters, in prayers for those still griev, and those suffering from the events of that day and the work that followed.
With you Teresa ❤️
Good morning sisters, I get the Worship Initiative to my inbox every morning. There is always a short message and a corresponding song. I love this so much. Today the song was “What a God, What a God”. My favorite verse was “If the highest place i reach is at your feet then i’ve done it all. If the best thing that I’ve seen is Your glory then I’ve seen it all. Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied. God, You are my everything. When I look back over my life and the times I was at my lowest point, God was there. He is my everything. May I always remember and never forget what God has done for me and my family. Have a blessed weekend ladies. ❤️
I have never heard of the Worship Initiative! Sounds like CeeGee though…a message and corresponding song! (and me!:))
Awww ☺ I know I’ve shared at least one of their songs here!
You Reign Above It All is a favorite!!! ❤
Shane and Shane does something similar; I think they a
work together but not sure.
I, too, love Worship Iniative- bben a fan of their music for several years and just recently found their devo. ❤
❤️❤️
This month is a month of remembrance. Today’s devotional was so appropriate. Last weekend my youngest son took me back to my childhood home in Illinois. I had not been there since 2015 when my first brother passed away. Now I am the only one left. We visited all the places I lived, my parent’s grave, the church where we were married 54 years ago, the grave of my special needs nephew and other family members. My niece was there at a Christian campgrounds with her food truck. I visited my SIL who is now remarried. We both had to shed some tears. It was a wonderful weekend stirring up many memories from the past.
Oh wow, how wonderful Elaine!!! What a trip of remembrance. I am up in Il right now and drove around remembering old times. (up west of Chicago!)
I grew up west of Chicago as well. Dixon/ Sterling area. The Christian camp ground was outside of Mendota.
How wonderful.❤️
I wonder if this is why Jewish people put rocks on their loved ones graves. My father was Jewish and when we went to the Jewish cemetery we would put the stones and i would ask him why put he wasn’t sure why.
September 11, 2001
9/11
Remembrance
Resilience
Reverence
❤️
oops I posted on yesterday’s section by mistake and my reposting on today seems to be withheld for some reason. Wishing you a wonderful weekend sisters. Hugs and love to you all.
Hugs right back, Mercy ❤️
I want to respond after ALL your great comments and prayer requests but get aggrevated by the pop ups, and still having to go back into the comments as well. It’s almost better to do like the old way (if you can remember!lol all your responses) Like Searching still does!!
Please lets make use of our great Facebook private page to discuss topics in more detail!! Its made for that! :)
❤️ I mainly do that because I’m referring to something posted or a prayer request from the day before. When I normally do my study time, there’s usually only a handful of comments and I don’t always get back to read them that same day. But I’m partial to the ‘old’ way on many things. :)
He is MY Rescue Story…reading your comments as Zach Williams sings “Rescue Story..” and the words pierce my heart. He doesn’t give up on us, and he writes our story before we even know it and realize it.
But when we are taught by our parents or someone else, the VERY real Jesus that is there. They tell us he is there, He is the Creator of all things, it created us in the womb. He rescued a people, a nation, and brought them to his own as a hen gathers her chicks. And wanted them to be a different people showing them the God of the nations. The light. And we, too, are to do that. When it is in us, it comes. I am so thankful for my parents and growing up in church. Yes, it still must become our own. And no church is perfect without failures, BUT God, uses our ancestors or friends, or nature to bring him to himself.
And when WE KNOW HIM, HIM!, we must share it!! Why would we not. We share our favorite recipes, cures for what ails us, our favorite sports team, or politics…yet, we don’t share JESUS!! Our Savior, our Protector, our Mercy and Grace..our SALVATION. Others literally go to HELL without knowing our Jesus!! Yet…we don’t want to share! I will never be quiet about Jesus and what he can do for them!! Don’t preach, share. Give your testimony (always be ready to give an answer…) and let them know there IS help! There is a SLAYER for the Giant! A PEACE in the Storm. A rope out of the pit! A LIGHT at the end of the tunnel. A glorious life after death!
The song comes to mind “Too Good Not To Believe” by Brandon Lake.
Thank you Jesus! Oh! Another Good oldie hymn “I Love to Tell the Story!!” I need to put that on!!
Thank you for the prayers for Brayden my grandson. He did not get released from jail and he looked so deflated and defeated. 2 weeks there, and now who knows how long, the wait begins of the unknown. (just like my butterflies). It is hard, but he is praying, and I KNOW he is being held up by our intersessions!! I told him my sisters were praying for him.
Continuing to pray for Brayden, and for you ❤️
❤❤❤
I just finished a study of Nehemiah. Reading about how Nehemiah prayed and the obstacles before him. He didn’t give up or give in. He kept praying and trusting God with the outcome. Prayers for safety for Brayden as he waits. ❤
Our church is doing Nehemiah. We are finishing up chapter 9 this week.
Rhonda, continued prayers for Brayden and you.. it is well.❤️
Good morning! I posted on our FB page requesting recommendations for Christian fiction books. Always looking for the next book. Have a good day and prayers for requests and those still facing the trauma from 25 years ago.
Oh I have good ones, I will go there now!! Mostly from CeeGee!
I don’t really do the romantic ones, I like more of history ones that help me put real emotions into the stories of the Bible, making them into real people with real thoughts and surrounding issues to deal with.
I will suggest here the series of returning to Israel after being in Babylon! I am on book 2. They are by Lynn Austin “Keepers of the Covenant” is either the series name or book 1.
Everything by Lynn Austin is outstanding! I’ll try to get on FB page!
I have the song “Until He Comes Again” sung by Sandra McCracken running through my head this morning. It is about remembrance, specifically remembering through the Lord’s Supper. What a good study this has been.
I thought how timely today’s devotion was. We remember 9/11 to show respect for those lost and who were deeply affected by it by surviving! In Oklahoma, we have a remembrance for the Murray bombing, we remember loss and how good can come from something meant for evil.
I think sometimes we remember more of the bad things than God’s goodness. It is good to just sit down and write all the things God has done for us! Once we start, it is hard to stop!
Please don’t think I am saying it is wrong to remember the bad events of life, it is. If we don’t remember those, we will not remember how God worked in those times.
I hoped this came across in how my heart meant it.
Praying for all and for all the families and survivors of 9/11.
Praying for all of you!
Yes, I immediately thought the same thing. Love that it coincided with 9/11! We have to remember, or we become weak. Once what was a God-fearing nation is weak, and it’s sad. Same pattern as the Israelites.
Cheryl with you in the praying for all❤️❤️
Remembering and recounting God’s faithfulness and the ways He has lead, provided, guided, protected us and so much is such a good practice. It can be easy to overlook but oh, so, so encouraing when we take the time to truly stop and see what the Lord has done. And, our gracious and good Heavenly Father deserves the praise, honor and glory for all He has done, starting with His sacrifice on the cross. But it doesn’t stop there and the life we live is overflowing with countless things to remember- we just simply can’t forget His faithfulness. Remember, recount, recall, retell❤️
‘I wil sing of the LORD’S great love forever;with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.’ Psalm 89:1
AMEN, AMEN!!
Amen Wendy, Amen.❤️
I will never forget how God has carried me through some very hard times.
Yesterday I had my tooth extracted and a bone graft done. This is for the implant. I was awake all night. Today I’m in a bit of pain. I’m holding onto God pulling me through once again.
Praying for healing and relief from pain, Traci ❤️
Ahh, Traci, i feel your pain( even across the pond) praying you get relief from the pain sooooooooooooon.. hugs❤️
“remember the LORD’s works” (Ps 77:11)
I will always remember how MY JESUS came to the rescue for my children and I.
I will always remember how HE took care of us and provided for our every need. EVERYTHING!
I will always remember how my family and a couple of very close friends came to help me pick up the pieces, even helping me move. They are still my friends today 9 years later.
There is SO much to remember how MY JESUS remained faithful when my world was falling apart.
I will never regret getting married to the man I once called husband as something great came out of it. Caleb and Alyssa. The loves of my life here on earth. Though now I’m emptied nested, WE are still SO close and it’s all JESUS!
I will never forget what today is! Twenty-five years ago. I held my little boy so tight. Praying for all the families effected by this horrible tragedy! My heartaches to go back and watch and listen.
Praise the Lord for the many ways He has been so faithful to you❤️
Mari, i love you dear heart.. sending hugs❤️
Remembrance – this is a beautiful reminder that God is so good – in all things, he provides and holds it all together.
He holds ALL things together.. Amen❤️
Amen
Remembrance took on a whole new importance to me. Jesus is commands us to remember how and why He instituted a New Covenant for us and fervently desired to share it with us. Thank you Erin for reminding us that remembrance is a verb, an action, a choice that allows us to hold tightly to the truth of who God is. It makes our faith strong. It gives us strength. Just to remember all that Jesus did for us and will do for us.❤️
❤️
Would someone please share again their tips for memorizing scripture? I know it’s been shared before but I can’t find it in my notes and can’t remember who shared it. Maybe RHONDA J? MERCY? Another sister?
.
MARIA J ❤️ praying for you and family member for the check in tomorrow – for completion of the program, freedom from addictions and new life in Christ
TERESA COOPER DONLEY ❤️ what a betrayal. My heart breaks for what you faced and went through, and I am so thankful of the work you put into recovering your faith and relationship with God. You are such a blessing to this community ❤️
HEATHER H ❤️praying
KATERINA SNYDER ❤️ praying for restoration
CEE GEE ❤️
MARIA B ❤️ great post yesterday. I was convicted many years ago about the fiction I read and the music I listened to. Switched to Christian or clean books and music. Once you read or hear something, it stays in your mind. Maybe not at the forefront, but it’s still there in your memories.
MICHELLE P ❤️
B ❤️
ADRIENNE ❤️ praying
MERCY ❤️
KELLY (NEO) chastity in marriage, thank you for pointing that out. Our pastor mentions it a few times a year, and recommends using a filter to avoid unexpected results from innocent search terms. And your young mama, what a heartbreaking recommendation!!!!! Praying for this situation.
LINDA IN NC ❤️
KATIE TAMAALII ❤️
BRANDI, TARA B, FOSTER MAMA, CEE GEE, MARTHA HIX, B – thank you, though I can’t take any credit for words shared yesterday as those were guided by the Lord. They flowed out before I realized what I was typing.
LYNNE FROM AL – your post to LINDA IN NC ❤️ Praying as you continue to grieve
Thank you. ❤️
❤❤❤
re: yesterday- don’t you just marvel when that happens?!
Oh yeah!!!!!
Praying for all
Yes Searching (so glad you are back, we missed you, and thank you for the prayers for Brayden) I have some good tips I have found. If I can memorize anyone can! lol.
One is of course writing them out and understanding them. Then it helps to recall them by what they mean. But most helpful has been an App called “Bible Memorization!” The picture is a red outlined Bible. You can import Bible verses or write it out there. Then it helps you practice by putting the first letter of every word. Then next step it takes away every few words so you have to recall, and then all the words removed as you put the first letter (and say it…out loud is better!).
THEN the best part is it gives you notifications to practice your verses. The more you recall helps so much! I now have over 15 verses in there that I go back and practice. You can organize them into different categories. All this is free, but you can upgrade to get more!!
Now when I go to my phone when I have to wait somewhere, or just to do it, I can go there instead of Facebook. Or when I am just recalling and forget some of the verse, I go quickly to the app (on my HOME– (most used))
You know what becomes an idol by where you spend your time most!! Where do we spend our time on our phone if we looked??
Thank you so much for praying for me!! I have seen some new lows and some new hope. ❤️
.
Your comment to Maria B: “Once you read or hear something, it stays in your mind.”
So true—you cannot unsee, unthink, or unhear. :/ I have been recognizing this more recently.
❤️
Thank you, Searching ❤️
❤️Thank you for your prayers. Treasured and appreciated.
❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, precious Searching! ❤️
Praying for you daily as you deal with your chronic pain. ❤️
Amen! this study plan is slowly making its way into my favorites list
right?! Me too. We did one on disciplines which I thought this started out as, but it has gone into different, more acute but not brought up so much, reflections!
I have thought about setting up stones of remembrance in my backyard to remind me of God’s faithfulness. If only I would remember to do it.
Ladies, could you please pray as I’m taking a family member to detox/rehab tomorrow and that they would complete the program and find freedom, sobriety and redemption.
You got it, Maria. That is a hard road. My father was a recovered alcoholic. Seemed likehis sobriety was always a dance of two steps forward and then one back.
❤️That does sum it up. Two forward, one back.
Praying for your family member!
Thank you. ❤️
Praying for your family member.
And what a great idea about stones of remembrance in the backyard.
❤️
Thank you. ❤️
praying..❤️
❤️
What have we been taught about God’s faithfulness and how He alone guided, protected, led and provided for those who have been walking with Him?
What have we learned from our own personal walk that we are living and sharing with others?
How often do we take the time to reflect on what God has done in our own lives that, in the moment of realization, stopped us in our tracks in thankfulness and amazement of His mercy, grace and performance of miracles?
.
Reading these Scripture selections brought to mind the question – is there any country in today’s world whose government and citizens stand for and live for the Lord?
.
2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Great reflections! ❤
❤️
Indeed. Is there anywhere country?
So sad to think about.
It is up to us as individuals, and as the church, to stand up and live for the Lord.
❤️
❤️❤️
I wrote this when my brother BJ was first diagnosed with cancer.
Everything was a whirlwind of doctor visits, tests, and more tests. Because of COVID, I couldn’t be there for any of it. The day before his virtual oncology appointment, I was filled with “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios.
That afternoon, the words “Psalm 77:11” came to mind. I ignored them. Later that night, again: “Psalm 77:11.”
OK God, now I’m listening. I opened my Bible:
“But then I recall all that you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.”
Wow. I had never read this psalm before, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. The writer begins Psalm 77 in fear and distress. Then comes verse 11:
“But then I recall…” There’s the shift. He remembers what God has done. His focus moves from fear to faith, from his weakness to God’s power.
It felt like God’s sweet reminder to me: Remember what I’ve already done. Remember how I’ve always been by your side. Remember—I am the God of miracles. God got us through that doctor’s visit and every day that followed.
Psalm 77:11 has become my life verse. If I ever get a tattoo, this will be it! I try to practice remembrance, but like Erin wrote, “our brokenness has frayed my heart strings”. But God always has a way of getting our attention, like this morning, with the devo ending with 77:11:) Have a blessed Friday ladies!
Remember.
❤️
❤️
❤️
❤
❤️
I love how God reminds us!
Wow I hadn’t put that together —that today’s reading of Remembrance is on the solemn day of remembrance of what happened 25 years ago…
❤️❤️❤️
Remembrance is definitely a discipline that I need to practice more often. I don’t know about you, but doesn’t it seem like the more stressfull or upsetting things are the more likely I am to forget God’s faithfulness in the past.
.
I guess that just shows how easily I doubt His goodness or trust His promise to never leave or forsake me.
.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
.
Praying for the many families continuing to grieve their loss from 25 years ago. May we remember also those that survived and may suffer from PTSD or other mental or physical ailments from the events of 9/11 or it’s clean up.
Agree, Kelly. When I run out of patience in waiting for the Lord’s guidance, the doubts creep in and my tendency is to take matters into my own hands – what a mess that makes.
.
Joining you in prayer for those grieving and still suffering from the 9/11 tragedy. What a shocking and heartbreaking time that is seared into my mind.
Agreeing with you both! God bless those affected by the 9/11 tragedy and the families and friends of those who were lost.
❤❤❤
❤️❤️❤️
Yes!
with you in prayer Kelly..❤️
May the Lord help us not forget to remember His great love and faithfulness now and always!
❤️
Yes, indeed, my “cord is frayed”! The Lord is ever faithful and I am ever forgetful. One very good reason to keep a journal – it truly does boost our faith and courage when we recall how He has shown up time and time again in the past – even when the way was hard.
How Great is Thy Faithulness, Father to us!!
Amen!
Amen, Sally ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
❤️