We make souvenirs of silly things sometimes. The pack rats among us save not just one childhood report card, but all of them. Not just one or two art projects, but all of them. Not just one or two children’s toys—but ALL of them. Eventually you need file cabinets and a rented storage unit to hang on to things earlier generations would have tossed.
But the reverse is also true: sometimes we forget things we should remember. We forget great compliments. We forget how amazing a victory felt, or an achievement. And we even forget the things God does in our lives. What deserves to be memorized more than the things God says to you? Those are things you should NEVER forget! Because hearing God’s voice is such an amazing and personal thing, I make an effort to remember when He speaks.
“Jacob set up a marker at the place where God had spoken to him—a stone marker” Genesis 35:14.
Henry Blackaby writes that, like Jacob, we should erect “spiritual markers” in our lives so that we never forget the great acts of God on our behalf. Here are some of mine:
- Salvation and baptism (I’ll save the details)
- God led me to one of my childhood friends (seriously—but I did not know His voice at the time), Chris Wolff
- Years later, God led me to date your mom
- God led me to work at Tyrrell Park Baptist Church in Beaumont (and I did NOT want to)
- God led me to break up (again, I did not want to), and etcetera….
What has God done in your life? When has he spoken to you? Has he ever said the opposite of what you wanted him to say? It may be disappointing, but it lets you know you’re probably hearing from him and not simply imagining the answer for which you already hoped.
Make a list. Memorize everything God does in your life.
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Household Words: 