Spark the Memories

I regularly spend time with a 94 year old woman named Helen. Helen has significant difficulties with her memory. Often, she has forgotten many years of her life and believes that she is either a child or a young woman again. When this happens she is devastated by the fact that her parents have been dead for many years. She has to process the loss and accept her advanced years and missing memories.
As Helen and I were talking the other day, I began telling about her wonderful life. She has six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with two more on the way. She has outlived two husbands. As I told her this, she looked at me with fear in her eyes and stated that she did not remember either husband.
At this point I pulled out a box of pictures that spanned the last 20+ years. There were pictures of her grandchildren from when they were very young along with both she and her second husband. We laughed at some of the antics that were displayed in these photos. When certain photos of her husband were in front of us, Helen would remember and relate to me some specific facts about him. One of these occurred when he was on the floor playing with his young grandson. Helen remembered that when the little ones were over, his favorite spot was on the floor playing with them. She also remembered a night spent with some friends as we looked at the photos. She even remembered that her husband had preferred shirts with collars over t-shirts.
Do we sometimes struggle with our spiritual memories? Do we look back to the times we were first born again and remember the newness of our relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, only to forget everything that God has done in our lives since that point? And when we have forgotten, does that same fear show in our eyes?
When we are in the heat of struggles it can be easy to forget the miracles that we have been experienced. We can be overwhelmed in the moment and lose our focus of Almighty God. Fear of the future seems to overpower memories of the past. We wish to retreat to a safe time when we were young and protected.

When times like these occur we need to take a moment and pull out or spiritual photo albums. We need to flip through page after page of how the Word of God has been true in our lives. Like the psalmist, Asaph, we must purposefully remember God’s deeds. “I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old. I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.” (Psalms 77:11-12 AMP)

We can also get together with friends and discuss the experiences that we have had together. “Remember the time when God did...” can be a very encouraging and strengthening conversation. “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:19 AMP) This reminiscing will encourage all to remember God’s goodness and deep love.

But even more then remembering the mighty deeds of our Heavenly Father, we need to remember Him. We need to know Him afresh. This can be accomplished only by spending time and Hs presence and in Hs precious word. “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].” (Hebrews 12:2a AMP) When we look and remember we will be encouraged and strengthened in all we do. Constantly spending time in the Scriptures will also help us to keep from forgetting. “But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).” (James 1:25 AMP)

So pull out the photo album of your life with God. Spend time gazing into His loving word. And renew the memory of your beloved.