Shepastor: “The Power of Remembrance”

This past Monday, our Nation paused to honor those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in exchange for the greater good. Families and individuals honored their loved ones who are no longer with them on this side of the Jordan. Remembrance can be a powerful thing. It can also be a complicated thing. Today Shepastor takes a moment to reflect upon both the wonderful and the difficult sides of memories.

In the Old Testament Book of Joshua, 4:20-24, Joshua set up 12 “stones of remembrance,” that would serve as testaments to God’s mighty acts of deliverance – the miracles before and after the crossing of the River Jordan. The stones were visual aids for younger generations to catch a glimpse of what their forebears endured, and the victory God gave them over pharaoh. The stones also were to serve as reminders to the next generation that God is God and beside Him there is no other. Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:23 declared that he, despite dreadful circumstances, gained hope when he remembered that the Lord’s faithfulness is new every morning.

In each of these instances, remembrance was used as a tool to help individuals to remain faithful and to walk in victory. Through the lens of these two scripture passages, remembrance serves a wonderful purpose – to strengthen, give focus and increase faith. Then, we hear the Apostle Paul declare, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV). Memories can also be problematic. Even good memories can keep you from pressing towards your “mark for the prize or your high calling.” Some spend so much time in the past that they miss the opportunities of the present and the future.

Painful memories can keep us from pressing forward. The pain of the past may keep you from hearing, seeing or pursuing the vision God has for your life. Is this your condition? Has the power of a memory kept you from the promise of your prize? Determine today which memories are meant to be blessed reminders to help you gain hope, courage, focus and strength and which memories are meant to be released and left in your past.

Remembrance is powerful. Choose positive, Holy Spirit power filled memories for your thought process today.

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Until next Wednesday, In Faith, Hope and Perseverance, Pastor Chris