Remember

Remember

ISAIAH 17

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Because thou has forgotten the God of thy salvation, 

and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, 

therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, 

and shalt set it with strange slips:

Isaiah 17:10 NKJV

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When reading this chapter this verse stood out to me immediately. 

It is so easy to read the old and new testament and think why would they do that?

I have been thinking about this verse for a while and really asking God to show me, have I forgotten Him?

My first reaction would be to say, of course not! 

But the more time I spent praying and meditating on this verse I wasn’t so sure.

I think like a lot of us we have forgotten, come complacent. 

Am I really mindful of the rock of my strength?

I’ve had a lot of things happening in my life over the last several months and I am discovering some things about myself I don’t really like.  I do not like change and I am not good with change, even if I am the one making the choices.  I have been struggling with feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and low self worth.

This is why this verse seemed to jump off the page to me. 

I have forgotten.

I have forgotten where I was when God rescued me.

I have forgotten the thousands of days since.

I have been relying on my own strength and not His.

I have forgotten the promises He made and has kept.

I have been impatient on the promises not yet fulfilled, and in doing so I have put other things before Him.

It is so easy in this busy world to put “things” before our relationship with God.

For me my “idol" is the TV or a book. I can very easily turn my mind off and get lost in something else.

It’s just a way to escape whatever is going on in my life and just forget, at least for a little while.

But that’s the lie. 

Escaping for a few minutes, or let’s be honest, hours, changes nothing. 

Numbing myself to what I am struggling with helps no-one and nothing. 

But if the devil can distract then he has won half the battle.

Because I have forgotten who God is I have turned from Him and opened the door

 to the devil and all I have been struggling with. It’s through the choices I have made.

 I have allowed this and I am the only one that can change it.

I have to remember.

It humbles me to think that God is just waiting, 

watching me struggle and sending me hints, 

some subtle and some not so subtle, to just turn. 

Just remember.

Have you forgotten the God of your salvation? Do you remember the day you realized you needed a savior? Are you relying on your own strength? Have you placed any idols before God?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your word. I pray that you would reveal anything in my life that I am placing before you. Show me the things in my life that are a distraction and not necessary. Bring back to my remembrance the truth of who you are. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I need you. I place all other things aside and put you in the center. 

 In Jesus name, amen.