Today is November 11 and, in Canada, we celebrate today as Remembrance Day. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 the First World War officially ended. The countries in the British Commonwealth agreed to mark that day as an annual remembrance of those who gave their lives for our freedom.
There is great importance in remembering.
Those of us who are older remember a lot more than younger members of society. The older we get the more important history is to us. Scripture uses the word remember in a way that is not familiar to many of us. Our verses today demonstrate one of the things Jewish people meant by remembering.
According to our verses, remember means to meditate upon. After the Psalmist says he "remembers" God, he says the same thing another way when he says he thinks about God. This is an important action for all of God's people.
To ponder the great God we serve is to the soul what food is to the body. We are strengthened spiritually as we review the various truths about God.
When I am tempted to think that God has left me, it is appropriate to remember how faithful He has been as recorded in Scripture and in my past life.
When I feel that I am weak and unable to endure, it makes a great difference to me to consider how powerful God must be to have constructed the universe and all that is in it.
Then, when I feel that I am not important to anyone, I can recall that the Lord sent His Son to die for me. As I remember the love of the Lord for sinners like myself, I am upheld by Him.
When no one is around to help me with my difficulties, I bring to mind the truth that God's right hand holds me fast and He will never let me go. His help causes the Christian to sing for joy.
Do you practice this form of remembering? The next time you spend a sleepless night, start remembering the Lord's past faithfulness to you. Call to mind how He helped you in this difficulty or that one. Remember His promises to those who love him.
Soon you will start to sing in your heart. You will "cling" to Him as you recall all the benefits of being His child. You will be strengthened to live another day. Don't forget to remember.
