I used to marvel at how many times in the Old Testament God would speak or do something big for a person, and they would build an altar or monument to remember the occasion. (I believe it’s called an Ebenezer.) I now know why - we forget. We need reminders of the times when God does something monumental in our lives, or we tend to forget their significance over time. We get spiritual amnesia. It’s a thing.
I ask God to speak to me, but I repeatedly fall short on doing my part. He has already told me how he has chosen to speak to me personally, but I keep forgetting. Now, why wouldn’t I run to the place, time, or method He uses for me, knowing that He’s already told me how, when I want to hear from Him? Seems silly, doesn’t it?!? Yet I keep on forgetting! He has clearly shown me that he speaks to me when I journal. He doesn’t do that for everyone. A lot of people have a special spot that is meaningful to them. I’m sure he has a special way for each of us. But for me, it’s journaling. He has a way of bringing insight to me when I’m pouring out my thoughts. I’ll look back over things I’ve written and know that I didn’t write them. I’ve come to experience what the writers in the Bible must have experienced. You’ll start out writing about a situation or problem and suddenly realize he just spoke the answer through your very own fingers!
So once again, I ponder, why would I not constantly and consistently write things down? Because I’m weak and forgetful. Seems that because this is such a simple thing, I discount it. I shrug it off as being unimportant because I don’t think I have anything to say. But . . . Maybe he doesn’t care about me having deep thoughts as much as me listening to him and remembering what he’s already done for me . . . Mic drop . . . It’s in the little things that he instills a disciplined life. He’s not going to speak great truths to me each day if I’m not obeying him! He’s simply waiting for me to learn discipline. It’s in the mundane, redundant activities that we learn to trust him. It’s in these activities that we are being prepared for service. We must be faithful in the things he’s already told us if we expect to get more from him. Why would he give me more when I haven’t developed the habit of what he already told me to do? I keep slipping back into spiritual amnesia! He reminded me that he’s asked me to do this because it’s for me - not others. He reminded me that he desires to speak to me, but I have to do my part. I have to remember.
So once again, I claim the mercy he has for me and ask for a do-over. Thankfully, he reminded me that he’s the king of do-overs!!
Actually, I’m no better than one of the Israelites who kept forgetting. You too, are you the pot or the kettle?
