Thursday, April 10, 2025
Remember to Move Forward – Psalm 103:1-5 Submitted by Kay Crumley
Are you good at reminiscing? Can you recall only big events in your past or those small ones as well? What’s the point of remembering, if it’s done then why not just put it in your past?
I am reading Kristi McLelland’s book “Feasting on the Word of God.” She describes remembering in a way that is new to me. God repeats the importance of remembering many times throughout the Bible. Anything that He emphasizes is important. As His children we have confidence in His provision in our lives. It is no longer necessary for us to strive to make our own path. Kristi puts it this way in her book on page 64. ‘Rather than striving and straining like an orphan and trying to figure out what to do, practice living as a son or daughter by pausing to remember, by allowing the Word of the Lord to find and encourage you as you recall stories of His fidelity to you’. His Word has many examples of how we do that and what things there are to remember. The Hebrew word for remember is zakhar. It is a strong, active verb to remember or to recall, not a passive recollection. As we remember we are to engage all our senses to bring to life the times our Lord, the God of the universe, intervened, provided, protected, or gave refuge in our lives.
The passage below from Psalm 103 was written by David as he took time to zakhar. Verses 1-2 begins by praising the Lord. David is putting his whole self into blessing or acknowledging and praising the Lord God’s greatness. David vows not to forget the many benefits that are his because of the graciousness of the Lord.
1 My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.
He begins to list the goodness of God to him as he remembers what He has done. Shouldn’t we all take time daily to be thankful for His forgiveness. God provided the ultimate sacrifice through Jesus Christ so that all our iniquity, our many sins, are forgiven. For that alone we should shout our praise to Him. He rescues us from the Pit, a place of destruction. “He selects a few of the choicest pearls from the casket of divine love, threads them on the string of memory, and hangs them about the neck of gratitude.” (Spurgeon) What pearls can you add to your string of memories to hang on your profound gratitude for all God has done for you? He heals our diseases, physical, emotional, and spiritual. He places a crown of love and compassion on our heads to protect us from the enemy. He fully satisfies our desires with good things and renews our strength, our vigor like that of an eagle.
