Distractions

Wait...what? What was I just doing? What was that thought I had a moment ago?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Me too. I will be the first one to say "Write it down!" but forget to write things down. It's a sad state of affairs. Why are we so forgetful? There was a time in our human history where it was vital to remember. It has been vital to retaining history, remembering events and at one point how to get in touch with your friends by phone. I will be the first to say that I'm grateful for pen, paper and even technology, but there are things that we should commit to memory, but it does have to be written down or passed down for generations to come.

Habakkuk 2:2; {The Lord’s Answer} "Then the Lord replied: 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.'"  

I believe one of the reasons that we tend to forget things is because of all the distractions that are all around. The TV, the internet, thousands of magazines, advertisements, just an overload of information! We are so bombarded that we tend to remember the jingle of a company before we remember why we walked into the next room. Distractions in our lives can crowd out our time with the Lord.

Luke 10:40; "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'”

Another reason may just be that we don't spend time with one another as much as we used to. We share stories on social media sites, but not with our friends when we are face to face with one another. We expect people to already know what is going on - as if our day is consumed with combing the internet with "what is she doing now?". Storytelling is vital for memory! Jesus would share parables. People would go and tell their family and neighbors when Jesus healed them.

Matthew 13:3; "Then he told them many things in parables..."

 John 4:39; [ Many Samaritans Believe ] Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”

The antidote to remembering? I could not tell you for certain, but I do believe it is repetition. You've heard of muscle memory haven't you? When you repeat the same motion with the same weight time after time - your muscles remember and can work with ease. The brain should be exercised as a muscle. Reading, memory games (yes there's a lot of them out there), and repeating of stories are some great ways to exercise the brain.

Joel 1:3; "Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation."

Isn't great to know that God never forgets! He remembers his promises, he remembers our names, he even remembers what we do for him and for others in his name. We will be held accountable for all of it! I looked up the word remember in the Bible. It is mentioned 231 times! It's safe to say that memory is important. We must be intentional and not get distracted when it comes to remembering things.

Psalm 77:12; "I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Maybe it will take repetition or to write things down in order to remember, but the truth is we need to remember all the goodness that God provides. We need to remember what God has done in our lives! We need to share with others God's promises to man. So I challenge you today, share a story (from memory) of what God has done in your life with someone today.  Read and re-read a new scripture verse and commit it to memory. Write down in a journal your prayers and look back on it and make a note of when God answered that prayer.

Exodus 34:27; "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.'”

~Peace & Blessings~
Jen