A Word to Live Into

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me, bless thy holy name, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits - who forgives…who heals…who redeems…who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live. Ps 103:1-5

This is one of my favorite psalms. It tells us to bless and not to forget.

We are to remember.

When does forgetting begin for you?

It often happens sooner than I would like!

I sometimes forget to look at the lists I make to help me remember.

We all need to remember something or someone.

And there are often consequences when we forget.

It is important to remember.

While it helps to remember tasks you need to complete, some things make an even bigger impact when we remember them.

1. Remember who you are.

You are more than your age, your job status, or your credit score. You are more than how you look or how you vote. You are more than your greatest success or failure or whatever circumstance you find yourself in today. In the truest sense, you are more than what you do, what you have, and what others say about you.

You are meant to be here. God created you, wanted you to be, and wants to be with you. There has never been a time when God did not want to be with you. You are valuable because God created you, and God loves you.

It is important to remember who you are, because it can be pretty easy to forget. When we do, we can lose ourselves or over-identify with an edited version of ourselves that fits in with who others want us to be.

“The secret of your identity,” wrote Thomas Merton, “ is hidden in the love and mercy of God.” (1) You belong to God. You discover your true self —your best self —in discovering God.

We can begin where the psalmist did. We can remember all God’s benefits. Of course, this is not easy. The psalmist talks to himself to remind himself that this is true. We need to remember that we need God's help. We need God to forgive, to heal, to redeem, and to love us with a committed, trustworthy love. We need mercy as we struggle, suffer, and miss the mark. We need a source of rest that satisfies, which only God alone can give.

2. Remember, you can choose.

We live in a confusing time. It may feel like things are out of control. We not only have access to everything that is happening in our own town, but also in communities all over the world. The burden of this kind of knowledge can be too much for the human soul.

We also live in a time of information overload. It is hard to know which voice to listen to. There is an expert on every corner; what is good according to one is bad for another. We are also bombarded with studies that promise to reveal the secret to everything, from a smaller waistline to mastering leadership to achieving happiness.

In the midst of it all, remember that you can choose.  You can choose what you allow into your mind and your heart. You can choose how you deal with the time you have each day. Be kind to yourself. Be honest with yourself. Choose things that please God. Arrange your life so that you experience God’s blessing and bless others.

Discernment is necessary. As all kinds of voices surround you, remember what Jesus’ voice sounds like. His voice is pure, peaceful, gentle, friendly, and full of compassion. His voice is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. (2)

3. Remember how far you have come.

Sometimes we can get stuck in the past. Sometimes we can be tempted by the future, thinking there will be something more, something better there. You can only live the day you are given. Imagine all that you have heard, seen, done, and overcome to get to where you are today! And if you have made it this far, you can keep going today.

Let’s take David’s advice offered in the Bible. He told the priests and the people:

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,

make known his deeds among the people…

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,”

I Chron 16: 8, 11-12

How to live into the word remember…

1. Read Psalm 103.

*What does it say to you?

*What does it tell you about who God is?

*Notice it calls out God’s committed love and compassion.

Remember and reflect on God’s committed love and compassion for you.

What does it mean to you?

2. For the next 30 days, spend 15 minutes each day remembering and pondering the fact that God loves you.

   
   

3. After remembering God’s love for you, take the time to remember all you have received. Give thanks.

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1. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

2. See James 3:17 and the article “The Voice You Need” at A Growing Faith.com