Remember

When you pray, how do you begin your conversation with God? In the book of Psalms, you regularly find the prayerful pattern of “Remembering.”  

Here are a couple of examples of “Remembering” from the Psalms: 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” Psalm 103:2   

“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.” Psalm 77:11-12 

The Hebrew word for “Remember” is “Zakar” (זָכַר). Unlike our normal perspective, which stands in the present and recalls the past, this kind of biblical remembering places us in our past so we can see our present from its perspective within the greater picture of God’s story, strengthening our faith and trust in God.

It is helpful to note that every major Old Testament festival that God prescribed for His people to observe each year ultimately focused them on their “Remembering” of God and His abiding presence, His gracious provision, and how He had powerfully delivered them. Even in the New Testament, as Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He reminds us to “Remember,” declaring that as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we do so “…in remembrance of Him.” 

As we pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done, as we offer up to God the needs of our hearts and the causes of those we know, I encourage you to begin your prayers “Remembering” with gratitude and thanksgiving to God for all that God has been and done in your life. I would love to hear of your “Remembering.” You can share one using the comment link below.

Need a place to begin your habit of prayerful remembering? Consider using Psalm 92:1-2 as a pattern to follow. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night…”