A few years ago, while running, I turned a corner and saw a woman walking toward me. As we got closer, I heard God say, “Tell her Peace be with you”.
I didn’t want her to think I was odd, and in my head responded, “I can’t do that. That’s what you say in church. She’ll think I’m crazy”. God’s response was to tell me again, “Tell her Peace be with you”.
By now, the woman and I had just passed each other. I couldn’t deny what God was asking me to do, so I stopped, turned around, and called to the woman. When she turned towards me, I said, “I feel I should tell you, Peace be with you”.
She replied, “I needed to hear those words” and started to cry. I walked towards her and asked if I could give her a hug. She said yes and I embraced her for a moment, then we both turned and went our separate ways.
It was powerful to see God at work. As I resumed my run, I marveled at God’s goodness. I was in awe and shared the experience with a few friends. For days, I reflected on how God is always at work in our lives.
And then I forgot.
About a year later, while running the same route, I turned that corner and remembered the experience. Remembered God’s goodness and again marveled that the God of the universe cares so much for each of us that he can cross our paths and use us to share His love with others. He cares for us so much!
And yet I had forgotten.
It’s been several months since I remembered that experience. As I head out to run on Saturday mornings, I think about that experience and reflect on what God did that day. I also think about how I had forgotten something so powerful. One day as I was thinking about that, it reminded me of the pillars different people in the Bible make when they experience something powerful with God.
Here are just three examples:
While Jacob was traveling and stopped for the night, he had a dream and God was telling Jacob he would have many descendants and the land he was on would be for his family. Then God said, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob woke up he said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven”. And in the morning he took the stone he’d slept on and set it as a pillar. (Summarized from Genesis 28:10-22)
When the Israelites were in Mizpah, the Palestinians approached them for battle. God protected the Israelites, and after they defeated the Palestinians, Samuel placed a stone between Mizpah and Shen, saying “The Lord has helped us”. (Summarized from 1 Samuel 7:10-12)
After God stopped the water of the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross into the promised land, he had them place 12 stones in the place where they crossed so that future generations would know how God had stopped the river so the Israelites could cross it. (Summarized from Joshua 1-4)
God knows we’re prone to forget and reminds us how important it is to remember:
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9
In Deuteronomy 8, Moses reminds the Israelites not to forget how God took care of them and provided for them during the 40 years they were in the desert. Then he talks about the promised land the Israelites are about to enter and reminds them that when they eat, they should praise God for the land He has given them. Moses explains, that if they don’t, they’re likely to forget it came from God and take pride in what they did for themselves and may eventually worship other gods. (Summarized from Deuteronomy 8:1-20)
Wow, that’s powerful. Moses paints a vivid picture of falling away from God, who provides, gives, and loves us so much. It’s a powerful reminder of why it’s so important to remember all the things God does for us, and all the ways God cares for us.
Reading the significance of why we should pray before we eat, giving thanks to God for providing for us, and how easily we can stray was compelling. It’s easy to take what God does for us for granted. This was a powerful reminder of why we should always be thinking of and giving thanks for the way He works in our lives.
The good news is, not only does God love and provide for us, He knows we’re prone to forget and calls us back to Him.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
But knowing we'll forget shouldn't be an excuse, we still need to try, to be intentional about giving thanks for God’s love, grace, and provision.
So, what can I do to remember all He does?
First, recognize it’s not through my strength or work, but through His grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Staying in the Word, reading it so I’m reminded of all God does, renews my heart and mind (Romans 12:2).
The pillars in the Bible stayed with me and after remembering the experience, and needing a reminder I’d heard God in my heart, I wrote a note on a Post-it and stuck it in front of my computer monitor. Somedays, I pause work, read the note, and reflect.
Reading the Bible verses above also reminded me why it’s important to pray before I eat.
Sometimes I pray before I eat, other times I skip it. I can try to be more intentional about praying and remembering Who really provided my food and all the ways He provides for me.
It brings to mind these verses and Paul’s prayer:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Ephesians 1:17-20)
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