After weeks of scouring Facebook Ads, contacting landlords, and virtual tours of places we finally found a house that all three of us liked, that met our ‘must have’ lists, and that matched our student budgets. We filled in the application and then waited. If you’ve ever gone through the process of looking for and renting or buying a house you are familiar with the process. When the deadline for moving out is coming fast as prospects for moving in dry up, the process of looking and waiting can be harrowing. Will we find something or won’t we?
Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash
It’s in moments like these that I have to remind myself of the countless times God showed up when I couldn’t see a way. Particularly, the times when he’s provided. Remembering his faithfulness in the past helps build my faith in the present and for the future.
In the Bible, psalms of remembrance were a way of reminding the people of God’s past faithfulness so that they could trust his faithfulness in the moment. Psalm 105 and 106 are two such psalms of remembrance. Psalm 105 recalls how God was faithful to his promise to Abraham, how he rescued them from famine, how he set them free from slavery, how he led them through the wilderness, how he fed them food from heaven, and how he gave them a land to live in. Psalm 106 recalls how even though they sinned against God, he still rescued them for the sake of his own glory, in response to intercession on their behalf, and in response to their distress.
That history served as a reminder to the Jews in exile that God would not abandon them in Babylon. It reminded the Jews who returned and struggled to rebuild their lives under foreign control that God would take care of them, that he would remain faithful to his promises and rescue them from their distress. Psalms of remembrance are not about reminiscing over the good old days. They are meant to spur the reader forward, to response and action. Psalm 105 spurs the reader to worship, trust and obedience. Psalm 106 spurs the reader to prayer, justice, faithfulness and thanksgiving. The psalms of remembrance are psalms moving the reader to action. They looked back in order to help the reader move forward.
Do you need to look back in order to move forward? Do you need to be reminded of the times that God showed up unexpectedly, spoke to your heart, made a way for the impossible, or rescued you even though you didn’t deserve it? Write a psalm of remembrance that spurs you to faith, hope, prayer, righteousness, faithfulness, thanksgiving and worship. We need to remember what God has done for us in the past to keep going in the present.
While waiting to find a place to live, I had to keep reminding myself that God has taken care of me in the past. I thought of specific instances: finances for school (more than once and in ways I never imagined!), multiple jobs that were the right fit for the season I was in, amazing friends to do life with together, and so much more. I remembered how God had directed me to the place where I am now and the call that he has placed on my heart. And even though at times I doubted, I wavered in faith unsure of whether we’d find a place to live or not, he still showed up. He proved himself faithful and good yet again.
So this is just one more instance that I can add to the psalm of remembrance of my life. It is one more instance that will push me forward in faith, thanksgiving, joy and hope.
My Psalm of Remembrance
Photo by Sarandy Westfall on Unsplash
Praise God! Worship him with your whole heart.
Express thanks to him for his never-ending love.
He is faithful to his promises and walks with us through each day.
He has shown me undeserved favor;
He has poured out blessing upon blessing;
I cannot count the ways he has taken care of me.
He gave me a job I can’t remember applying to.
He gifted me an opportunity to know and love my grandparents.
He put good friends in my path.
He placed a calling in my heart and made a way.
He led me to the place where I could grow and flourish.
He revealed who he made me to be.
He gave me mentors and friends to cheer me on.
He walked with me through hard times.
He gave me a car when I had nothing.
He opened a home to call my own.
He challenged me to step out and empowered me to do it.
He took me to amazing places.
He called me for more.
He delighted me with his Word.
He created a place to create.
He invited me to hospitality.
He loved me through new communities.
He made a way for me to share.
He blessed me with lifelong friends.
He provided in the midst of crisis.
He pursued when I strayed.
He surrounded me with a godly family.
He made me laugh with furry friends.
He disciplined me for more.
He stretched me beyond myself.
He motivated me to keep moving forward.
He burdened me to serve.
He gave me a home.
He set me free.
I cannot count the ways you’ve blessed me;
Even when I could not see,
when I was distracted,
when I was hurting,
when I doubted,
you were there for me.
I praise you Jesus and humbly say, “Thank you. And I love you.”