“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” - Psalm 139:23- 24 (NIV)
Have you heard of something called selective memories? This is a condition where a person chooses to remember only those good things in the past while blocking out the nasty bits of life. I have a friend whose father was assassinated by Idi Amin’s soldiers. He has told me that life is far better than dwelling on this tragedy.
Actually selective memory can be a powerful coping weapon against trauma. By blocking out of the mind the past terror the victim chooses to focus on the brighter aspects of life. This is positive living.
But then also selective memory can become problematic when one decides to wash over the past as irrelevant. There are moments where we need to sit down and evaluate the past. A nation that does not evaluate its history has always the danger of plunging back into its tragic past. Likewise a life that never examines its past including those sour moments risks never growing.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence” (Isaiah 43:26). Earlier he had pointed out though not to dwell on the past, “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past” (verse 18). This is a delicate balance we need all to strike. The past is instructive for us to evaluate ourselves and learn such that we do better. However, we shouldn’t become a captive of the past!
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today in the precious name of Jesus I pray for wisdom to learn from my past as I look forward to a bright future in you!
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23/04/2024 - 24/04/2024 All day“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
There are many instances we find in the scriptures where God came and told a person, “I will come!” It was quite difficult to comprehend then and the waiting took a bit of time, but the Lord came through.
We find so in Gen 18:10, how the Lord spoke to Abraham, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” And surely at the right time the Lord came through.
The prophet Isaiah did long before the birth of Christ prophecy, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6-7).
Well, it took a bit of time; but it surely came to pass. There is here a remarkable fact about knowing God which none of us should ever lose sight of. As He once spoke through the prophet Balam, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” ( Numbers 23:19).There is a world of difference between God and man! If He has promised; He will fulfill. The Lord’s “Yes” is truly “Yes;” and His “No,” quite frankly, “No! “ Listen to God. If He has said, “I will come”, just wait, for as with the prophets, the Lord is not in the business of falling back on His own word!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you word says, you are not a human that you should lie, and for this, I hold on to your promises over my life, as I wait on you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
