01/25/2019
Have you been a Christian for many years, so many that you have now grown dull in your faith with the thrill of it diminishing? Are the things of faith that were once new and thrilling now routine and expected? If so then it is time to reminisce with the Lord, and praise Him anew for blessings long past. Remember the touch of His love, and the awe of His power.
“I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”
Isaiah 63:7 ESV
My wife and I have been married for 42 years, our children are grown and living on their own, the house is often quiet, and it would be so easy at this stage of our lives to lose sight of the mystery and joy we have known in one another. I read about others who have reached this place in life, and I hear of late life divorces that occur when couples believe that they no longer know who they have become. This isn’t uncommon, but it can be overcome by simply sitting down together and recalling all those moments of joy, hardship, and working together through tragedy or mourning... then holding one another and resolving to face the rest of life together. Sometimes, when my wife doesn’t know I am looking, I catch an expression on her face, or see something new and revealing in her that I hold in my mind, and purposely store there so that I can recall it when my day needs that loving memory. Our faith is the same way... quite often we need to remember, and to catch those sweet moments with Jesus that will see us through the everyday routine of loving and serving God.
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
Isaiah 63:9 ESV
When our life with the Lord reaches that place where the exciting things have become everyday routine occurrences, when the miracles are expected, and much of our faith no longer surprises us, then it is time to retreat into the quiet of our prayer closet and reminisce with God. We need to recall with Him those times when we had to choose between eating or paying the rent, and in desperation called on Him for provision, or when we were pregnant with our first child and leaned on Him because the thought of parenthood frightened us, or the joy of being first married and the praise we gave Him for this incredible spouse.
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Ephesians 5:33 ESV
When we begin to look back there are also the miracles, the ones that we have allowed to become dulled by time... the moments when we felt all was lost, but God stepped in to save us, or our child that was so sick that it took a miracle to save their life, and He healed them... in the course of a lifetime this list grows long, and it records the fruit of a full life together. The praise, the tears, the happiness, and the sorrows... all of our lives spent living a faith that that is now like breathing, but was once perceived to be so uncertain and thrilling, so filled with love, and awe. These are the things we should remember with God, and praise Him for again. Reliving these moments in our relationship with Him allows us to look at Him as if He were new to us and see the wonder in Him, to feel the love and warmth of the touch that we had allowed to become expected and cold. Remembering refreshes the excitement in the present as we walk each day with Jesus, and we begin to thank God anew for those things that we had long since forgotten to thank Him for.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV
Don’t let time rob you of your rightful joy, or steal from you the thrilling memories of a life with God. Sweep the cobwebs from the past and thank God once again for those things of old, and in doing so we see the present as new and the miracles with awe once more. Then will our thanksgiving rise up as it should, and God’s glory shine forth from our faces.
“For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.”
Isaiah 63:16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all of the blessings and answered prayers over the course of our walk together. Thank you Holy Father for the remembrance of each moment in which your love saved me, lifted me up, or provided for me. Never let me reach that point where you become tasteless in my mouth, your voice loses its thrill to my ears, or your touch does not raise the hair on my arm in excitement. Sit with me in the quiet of the night, and listen as I recall those times when we lived life’s great moments together, and hear the power in my voice as I recall your strength by praising, and thanking you anew for them. Renew the awe and excitement in our relationship today, and reinvigorate my prayers and desire to serve you. Blow the mist from before my eyes Lord, and circumcise my faith so that I can feel, and thrill, over those things that have become common to us. You are great for all time, and never let me lose sight of your glory. Praised be your name Father, for Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who was and is and is to come! In you I place my trust, and faith! It is you I worship, and give all glory forevermore.
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV
Rich Forbes