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Listen while you read: "Nearer My God To Thee"1 (Lyrics) |
In the United States, after reaching age 65, we are eligible for Medicare. The insurance providers recommend an annual wellness exam. Besides a quick physical checkup and questions about general health and lifestyle (Have you fallen lately? Can you manage your own finances?), there is a memory test. First, the technician says, "I'm going to say three words. You'll need to remember them later, okay?" Then, she gives several other tasks before saying, "Now, what were those three words?"
I dread these exams. What if I forget those words, or I can't count backwards by 3 from 97, or I accidentally say 2022 instead of 2023? And most people don't use analog clocks anymore!
Thankfully, during my recent exam, there were only two tasks: remember three words while drawing the hands of a clock at 11:10. So I said those three words in my head while writing the numbers 1-12 in the right spots on the circle and inserting the hands at the correct time. And then, I correctly repeated all three. Whew!
I imagine that many readers of PresbyCan devotionals are of an age to appreciate my dilemma. And it can be worrisome. But even as we age, we can still remember — we just need to use different strategies, like my repetition of those three words in my head while completing the other task.
In my Bible, on the title page for Deuteronomy, I wrote REMEMBER. That's one of its themes. The word occurs numerous times in Deuteronomy, along with "do not forget", as Moses repeatedly reminds the Israelites to remember how God brought them out of slavery and led them through the wilderness, and how only He gives the power to be successful in following His commands.
Isaiah 46:8-10 – Remember this and stand firm. … Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, … and I will accomplish all my purpose. (ESV)
"Remember" also occurs over 300 times throughout the whole Bible as we are told of God's great deeds and His love for us. We need to remember all that God has done for us and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. We can do that when we take communion: "Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19 ESV) But like the Israelites, we also need to make a conscious effort to remember Who God is, what He has done for us and our friends and family, and what He has promised through His Word.
Remembering requires effort. I had to force myself to remember those three words for the minute or so that it took to complete the other task. Some days, when life is tough, we may have to force ourselves to remember His blessings and His care for us. Remembering also requires repetition. As Moses repeatedly reminded the Israelites, we need to remind ourselves repeatedly to remember the former things and know that God will accomplish His purpose in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember, as You repeatedly told Joshua, to be strong and courageous, for You are with us wherever we go. Help us to remember the way that You have worked in our lives throughout the years as we continue to live for You. Amen.
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AMEN, SHARON!
Thank-you Sharon.
Thanks for the encouragement, Sharon.
Wonderful.
(B.C.)
Very true Sharon.
Blessings.
Great Daily Devotional. Worth “remembering”! Thanks Sharon,
(BC)
Sharon: Well written and so true. Thank you for the reminder.
(Ontario, Canada)
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. A blessed Memorial day to you and yours. Blessings.
Thank you. Living through this pandemic with a high-risk lung condition, has meant for my husband and I a different lifestyle. It’s easy to forget, thank you for this timely reminder to repeatedly remember how God used our lives in the pre-pandemic past.
Ah, yes, the dreaded memory test! What if they someday change it to counting backwards by four? My “practice preparation” ahead of time will be all in vain! Seriously, you gave a good reminder of our need to regularly remember all that God has done for us. Thanks for the reminder.
Good for you! I’m over 65 but I still work full time and folks will often pass me in the hall and ask for a report. Meanwhile others have spoken to me and by the time I have arrived at my office….you guessed it, the first report is forgotten.
Blessings.
Thanks, Sharon, for another of your special writings. Yes, as we age there are some things we sure have to strive to remember but most important is that we remember to praise and thank our Lord for all the continuous love and care He gives us. He is ever ready to serve us. Blessings for sharing your special gift of doing these very mindful devotionals.
Thank you for your challenge of remembering, and those very steps have been taken in my annual checkups. I am so thankful for being able to remember those three words and how to mark my clock correctly. And today I am thankful for the reminders of Pentecost Sunday yesterday. I was thankful to be able to remember some of the faith and testimony in relation to the 50 years of broadcasting the gospel by Trinity Broadcasting Network. Thank you for sharing and reminding us to be more thankful of our memories. Blessings.
Sharon,
I really enjoyed your devotional on remembering. I just finished a study on Deuteronomy of Moses reminding the Israelites of everything God did for them to encourage them as they were about to enter the promised land, so it was all fresh in my mind.
Also had to chuckle over the annual Medicare well-being check remembering 3 words and drawing an analog clock and specific time.
Hope you and your family are doing well.
There couldn’t have been a better theme for me to read about today. Remember!
I have been to those appointments like you talked about and feared my short memory was glaring at me. In fact, knowing how important the clock was I began to erase to get each number perfectly centered. It made no difference to my tester that I had just taken care of my daughter’s family for a month while she underwent chemotherapy. He did not ask me how my writing was coming along. He was only interested in the clock. I remember that my daughter is cancer-free by the touch of my God. I remember heaven is my home when God is through with me here. And the “clock”? Time is growing short!
I forgot to say… Wonderful writing!
Good morning, Sharon.
When life is tough, we do indeed forget to remember all the blessings we do have. We have similar tests here in Ontario when we turn 80 to renew our driver’s license. We had to take it every two years prior to the Covid situation. Sometimes the doctor will initiate it when she suspects that a person is not functioning properly mentally. In our case I was worried about my wife’s driving ability, I asked the doctor to do the test and she failed, so we sold her car and let her license expire. She later reluctantly admitted that it was a good thing.
Thank you for your good words as always.
Blessings.