I love to remember. I love to remember people, events, inside jokes, and life-changing moments or seasons, especially if I can remember them with someone else.

 

Remember that time we made snickerdoodles and didn’t realize we had forgotten the flour until the pans were already in the oven? (Actual event. I was ten.)

Hey mom, remember that time you accidentally sprayed Endust on the pan instead of Pam oil right before putting the chicken in the oven? (Good thing she realized it before we ate it.)

 

Wouldn’t life be dull if God had created us with only a five to ten year long capacity to remember? How sad it would be not to be able to remember my grandma Wymer, who died when I was just seven years old. She was blind, but you’d never have known it if you took a bite of her homemade spice cake. Can you imagine if we were unable to remember 9/11? And what if five years into marriage couples were asking each other, “Honey, how exactly did we meet?” Memory is a precious gift.

 

The book of Deuteronomy makes it beautifully clear that God also delights in His amazing gift of memory to us. The Israelites are right at the end of a forty-year journey through the wilderness, and their leader Moses, who will not be crossing over into the Promised Land with them, is giving his “farewell address”, making sure not to forget any important final words of instruction and encouragement.

 

When God had given Israel the Law at the beginning of the journey, He had made a very important conditional covenant with them. If they walked in His ways and obeyed the Law, bountiful blessings would follow them- abundant crops, victory over enemies, prosperity, health, etc. However, if they chose not to remember the Law of the Lord and do it, they would experience a multitude of curses. (See Deuteronomy 28)

 

Like a father getting ready to leave his daughter at college, Moses wants to make sure the Israelites remember what they have learned. “Okay, remember, don’t walk back to your dorm by yourself if it’s dark out. Remember, mom and I are only a phone call away. Remember, all persons of the opposite sex are poisonous.” The father only wants the best for his daughter, and Moses only wants the best for Israel.

 

In order to experience the blessings of God, the Israelites needed to remember the Law and do it. However, Moses commanded them to remember much more than simply the individual laws God had given them. He told them to remember what God had done for them. In other words, don’t just remember what God has commanded, remember WHO God is. How? Remember what He has done for you. Remember that He rescued you out of slavery in Egypt. Remember that He divided the Red Sea for you to safely walk across. Remember that He gave you manna to eat in the desert.

 

I was once told a very simple truth: our actions are a reflection of who we believe God to be. For example, the way I give is a reflection of what kind of Provider and ultimate fulfillment I believe God to be.

 

I believe the ability to remember plays a big part in this.

 

Now, the Bible clearly tells me that God will provide for me. Jesus says in Matthew 6 that I have no need to worry about food and clothing. If I seek Him first, I’ll be provided for. He also makes it clear in his parable in Luke 12 that storing up treasure on earth offers no true fulfillment. Even if I had never been in a situation in which I was required to depend fully on the provision of God, I would still be responsible for believing Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 and Luke 12, simply because as a Christian, I believe that every jot and tittle of the Bible is true. Yet how much more exciting it is to believe those words of Jesus when I can look back on my life and recount a specific time that I had experienced God to be my Provider! I don’t just believe that God provides because the Bible says He does- I believe that God provides because I remember when…

 

I keep a small 3 x 5 note card dated October 11, 2008 inside my Bible. Taped on the left side is a small newspaper clipping from the classifieds advertising a 2004 Chevy Cavalier, 2 door, 26k miles, $5500. To the right of the clipping is Psalm 105:1-5b:

 

O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glorify in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done.”

 

Whenever I see this note card, I remember when I needed a new car. After I returned home from nine months in Thailand to no job and no car, my dad graciously let me use his own car while I was getting settled back at home. Once I was a few weeks into my new job, we began the search for a used car. I prayed that God, who I believe loves to be involved in the details, would provide me with the exact car I needed. I prayed He would lead me to a car in the right price range, a car without many miles on it, and a car with good mileage. I also wanted to actually like the car. My dad patiently took me all over the place looking for “the one”, but none of the deals I came across resulted in that little feeling you get on the inside when you know you’ve found THE (insert item: shoes, husband, house, etc.).

 

One Saturday morning my dad and I decided to go to a couple dealers we hadn’t tried yet. When we went to leave, I (not-so-coincidentally) grabbed the newspaper. On the way to the dealer I scanned over the classifieds and came across a particular ad that read: ‘04 CHEVY Cavalier 2 dr. 26k mi. Exc. cond. $5500. The rest of the ad provided two phone numbers. This was the car I needed! Exactly what I was looking for! I immediately sent a text message to one of the numbers. Meanwhile my dad and I arrived at the car dealership and I tested out a pretty nice car, but I wasn’t crazy about the price and how many miles it had on it.

 

In between all of the talk with the car dealer I was talking back and forth with the owner of the Cavalier and figuring out where exactly the car was. It (not-so-coincidentally) happened that my dad and I were only TEN minutes from the place where the car was parked. We told the dealership "We'd be back" (oops!) and drove to see the Cavalier. Honestly, except for a few minor scratches, the car was in perfect condition. The owner even lowered the price 300 dollars because of the scratches. I test drove it and immediately said, "Yes, I'll take it!" I picked it up a few days later and the rest is history.

 

I know that God is my Provider, not just because it says so in Matthew 6, but because I remember when…

 

It is so important to remember when…lest our present circumstances at any given moment try to tell us something about the God we serve that contradicts with who we have known and remember Him to be.

 

Do you remember when…?

 

Rest assured- He is still that same God.