When Peg first told us about our November-December topic, “Remember,” I truly laughed out loud! My long term memory is uncanny. The earliest memories I have are sitting in a wooden rocking horse that had a bench and protective sides. Moreover, I recall being fed watermelon by my grandmother, sitting in a highchair. My short term memory on the other hand is pathetic and downright frustrating.   For instance, please don’t interrupt me when I am talking as I will forget what I was attempting to tell you. It drives me crazy to walk into a room because I need something and that quick forget what it was. As I was pondering this subject, I heard the Lord say, “it is not just what I want you to remember but what I want you to forget (or let go of) as well.”

Remembering can be such a wonderful experience. It is joyful to take a trip down memory lane and reflect about the good times with family and friends. Jesus tells us to remember when He said, “do this in remembrance of me.” I love The Message Bible translation.

“Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.

Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.

Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

This speaks volumes to me. When I think about the Lord’s broken body and shedding of blood, I remember that not only has He made a way for us to be with Him for all eternity but He set us free. Because of what He’s done for us, we no longer live under the curse and are no longer under the law. I firmly believe we are free from all sickness and addictions but better than that we now can have a relationship with God. This is the new covenant! Is life going to be a breeze? Heck no!   But when we remember what He has done for us, we come into the realization that we are never alone, He is good, faithful and can be trusted.

Now let us look at the polar opposite of remembering.

The Lord says in Isaiah 43: 18-19

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

There is nothing wrong with cherishing our memories but there are times we need to let go. Say we find ourselves reminiscing about the times our children were young and now that they flew the coop, we wish we could go back to those days. Sure it is ok to miss them, but now let the Lord do the new thing in your life. Your life isn’t over. The Lord promises to “make a way in the wilderness and steams in the wasteland.” Ask Him what that looks like.

How about when the memories are not so good? We need to let go and if need be forgive and seek the Lord in the matter. I’m not saying it is easy but with God all things are possible. Take one day at a time.

It is those little foxes that can especially trip us up.   Offense is a big culprit. As I more of less said in the Conformity blog, I am able to shake offense off rather quickly but there are those times, I have a sarcastic comeback. I am not one to start an argument but my weakness is, if you want one you got one. For the most part, 5 minutes later I can put it all behind me. My prayer is, that I let go of the offense immediately, never to give it a second thought. Furthermore to be baptized in a spirit love is something I been asking of the Lord. I heard of people who received it and I want it too. As for now, there are still those that get on my last nerve. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning. That means everyday is a fresh start, no matter what yesterday looked like.

There are even moves of God that we may need to put behind us. Maybe you were part of a wonderful move of God such as the Toronto Blessing, or were witness to Glory clouds, gold dust, fire on the rooftop. etc.  Oh yes, these things were all so glorious but I don’t want to reflect on them in a way that keeps me from moving forward in the things of God. I want to be part of the new thing that God is doing. My question is; Lord even though those things I heard about or experienced were astonishing, I want to know, what are You doing now?

In conclusion, let us remember the good memories, deal with and give God the bad ones. I pray that no memory good or bad would hold us back from the things that God has for us. Here is another promise from the Lord:

However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

Whoo Hoo!!!! That is exciting. May we all move forward in the things of the Lord!