Shirley
Amnesia is described as the loss of memories, such as facts, information and experiences. My first encounter with amnesia was on soap operas and telenovelas back in the 90s, which were by their very nature over the top and completely unrealistic. Nevertheless, a great story line I must admit. However, because every time the amnesia bomb was dropped into my shows, it was always grossly and highly exaggerated, for me amnesia has always been this farfetched and over the top thing that was not a possibility in the “real” world where people deal with grown up things. Nevertheless, the older I have gotten; I have begun to notice a very worrying trend especially in my spiritual life. I do not know about you, but I quickly forget the things that God has done for me as soon as I move into a new one. This happens like clockwork. The thing that scares me about this strange habit is how quickly I always forget, sometimes it doesn’t even take that long. I find this behaviour to be quite strange and perplexing and I cannot for the love of me understand why I do this. So perturbed have I been by this behaviour of mine that I had to self-diagnose myself with what I now call “answered prayer selective amnesia”.
Significantly though, this type of amnesia comes with many consequences, but the most damning is the effect it has on my faith in a new season. When I get “answered prayer selective amnesia”, and forget what God did for me in the past season I am often ineffective in a new season. So much so that when I face off with a new giant, my immediate reaction is to panic, cower, runway and hide. Often times God has to knock me over the head literally and remind me that even in a new season He is still the same God from an old season. Truly I must admit that something magical happens to me when I take the time to look back on my life and remember how far my God has brought me, immediately all my doubt leaves me, and a peace settles on me. I kid you not. As a result, I have come to suspect and to believe that it is the hope of the enemy that we forget the things that God has done for us in the past, because if we do then we will not have faith. I mean look at the story of David before he faced Goliath, he said something so profound that speaks to this subject of always remembering what God has done for us in a past season, and to use to pivot our faith in a new season. Samuel 17:34-37 says:
“ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
We also see the importance of this principle of remembering what God has done for us in the past espoused brilliantly in Deuteronomy 7:17–19 where Moses encourages the Israelites when he tells them:
You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
I could not put it down any better than Moses or David. So whatever season you may find yourself in today, you must remember thus far God has brought you. You must always write it down and keep it close to your heart. You must share and testify to others; you cannot forget what the Lord has already done in the past. So that when you pass by the fire or face a new giant, you can choose to stand in faith knowing with certainty that the God who was with you in the past is the same God who is with you now. It is all in remembering! That is why I now have a new tradition of writing down all the things that God has done for me. I refuse to forget!
Food for thought
Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. (Psalms 105: 5). I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. (Psalm 77:11-14). I remember to think about the many things you did in years gone by. Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you (Psalm 143:5-16) Yes, if he did it in the past, he can do it in the future. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1)