Do You Have Spiritual Amnesia?

“After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, ‘Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder…’” (Exodus 17:14)

We humans are a forgetful bunch. We forget our lunch. We forget our keys. We forget what we had for dinner last Christmas. We forget the name of that person we met last week.

And we often forget what God has done for us.

George Mueller didn’t forget. Born in 1805, he founded an orphanage in England that fed, clothed, and educated more than 10,000 children. During that time, he never asked for a donation to support this ministry. Instead, he took the needs of the orphanage to God in prayer.

We know about Mueller’s faithfulness and God’s provision because Mueller kept a journal of every prayer request he took to God and every time that God miraculously provided. Mueller’s journals contained over 50,000 specific answers to prayer. His prayer journals detailed his history with God. Each answered prayer increased his faith.

What is your history with God? Do you remember all he’s done for you?

In Deuteronomy 6:12, God urged the Israelites to remember how they had been delivered. In Matthew 26:26, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as a way for us to remember how our salvation was purchased. In Psalm 103:2, we are told not to forget all the good things God does for us. In Joshua 4:6, God directed his people to stack up twelve stones to remind them of how he stopped the Jordan River for them.

God knows we’re prone to spiritual amnesia, so he reminds us to remember.

Remembering our past history with God builds our confidence and faith. It gives us courage and makes us strong in battle. It honors God’s work in our lives, makes us grateful, and encourages others.

How can we better remember God’s work in our lives? We can be like George Mueller and write it down. We can tell it to our children and our grandchildren. We can ask God to remind us of our blessings. And, when we pray, we can remember to thank him for the times he brought us through difficult situations.

Amnesia happens a lot on television, though not so much in everyday life. But spiritual amnesia is widespread and dangerous. What steps will you take to remember God’s faithfulness?

Father God, when I look back over my life, I see your faithfulness. But sometimes I choose to look more at my current struggle than my past victories. Help me remember those times when you brought me through a challenging season. Those times when you made a way for me in a seemingly impossible situation. Those times when I felt your presence and your love. Your love never fails, and your faithfulness never ends. When I face a battle, help me remember that you will never fail me, and that you will always meet my needs. In Jesus’s name, amen.