WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
TOPIC: ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE
BY T. O. BANSO
“They forgot what he had done — the wonderful miracles he had shown them, the miracles he did for their ancestors in Egypt, on the plain of Zoan” (Psalm 78:11-12 New Living Translation).
Just as some people easily forget the good deeds they have enjoyed from others, they extend the same attitude to God. This should not be so. When David confronted Goliath, he easily recalled what the Lord had done for him in the past.
David was not impressed by Goliath’s reputation, which Saul had told him. Saul had told David that he would be unable to go against this Philistine to fight with him because David was a youth while Goliath had been a man of war from his youth (1 Samuel 17:33).
But David was not intimidated. He replied Saul, “‘Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of t\hem, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.’ Moreover David said, ‘The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine’” (verses 36-37 New King James Version).
As I have said, some people easily forget what the Lord had done for them in the past – His healing, deliverance, protection, etc. How could such people even remember the marvelous deeds He has done for others they have seen or heard about. Or how will they remember His awesome deeds recorded in the Bible?
If we can keep in mind the past, the wonderful miracles God has performed in our lives, the ones recorded in the Bible, and the ones He has done for others, it will boost our faith in Him. We shall not be intimidated by any condition, knowing that God who did similar things in the past is still alive. Miracles are still happening because the God of miracles is alive forever.
The writer of Psalm 44 had a good memory of the past miracles of God for the Israelites. This is how it should be. The psalm says, “We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, In days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them” (Psalm 44:1-3 New King James Version).
Compare this psalm with what the writer of Psalm 78 says about the warriors of Ephraim (referring to all the Israelites), who, though fully armed, turned their backs and fled when the day of battle came. They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law (verses 9-10). It is not clear, which particular incident this scripture refers to.
Some have suggested that it could be a reference to what happened during the time of Eli when the Philistines defeated Israel. “So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died” (1 Samuel 4:10-11 New King James Version).
As if what the Israelites (the warriors of Ephraim) did was not bad enough, verses 11-12 of Psalm 78 say, “They forgot what he [the LORD] had done — the wonderful miracles he had shown them, the miracles he did for their ancestors in Egypt, on the plain of Zoan” (New Living Translation).
The writer of this psalm recalled some of the wonderful miracles they forgot: “For he divided the sea before them and led them through! The water stood up like walls beside them! In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and at night by a pillar of fire. He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them plenty of water, as from a gushing spring. He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river!” (Verses 13-16 New Living Translation).
If they had remembered these miracles as David later remembered how God delivered him, they wouldn’t have turned back on the day of battle. They would have believed God for the victory as He had done for them in the past.
Psalm 106:13 says about the children of Israel in the wilderness, that after all the miracles the LORD did for them, they soon forgot His works. The New Living Translation says, “Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done!” The Bible in Basic English renders it thus: “But their memory of his works was short; not waiting to be guided by him.” Many people still do that today. Don’t have a short memory of the works of God. Don’t quickly forget His works.
Keep in mind the past miracles of God thereby positioning yourself for miracles. Don’t forget His awesome deeds in your life, family, career, ministry, business, and so on. Psalm 105:5 says, “Keep in mind the great works which he has done; his wonders, and the decisions of his mouth” (Bible in Basic English). The New King James Version says, “Remember His marvellous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.”
The writer of Psalm 77 was not forgetful. In his deep trouble, he remembered all the LORD had done. “I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. You have redeemed your people by your strength, the descendants of Jacob and of Joseph by your might” (verses 11-15, New Living Tr anslation).
Verses 11-12 in Bible in Basic English says, “I will keep in mind the works of Jah: I will keep the memory of your wonders in the past I will give thought to all your work, while my mind goes over your acts of power.” That’s a good memory to keep instead of keeping the memory of offences or prayer requests that the answers have not manifested. David said, “I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works. I think about what you have done” (Psalm 143:5 New Living Translation).
If you remember what the Lord did for you in the past, His deliverance, His victory, you’ll never be afraid of any enemy or challenge you are currently facing or will face. Your attitude will be like that of David that the LORD who did it before will do it again. Talking to the Israelites, Deuteronomy 7:17-18 says, “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ — you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt” (New King James Version).
Always keep in mind what the Lord has done. Retain them in your memory. The Lord will do much more.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God. I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for all Your wonderful miracles. Thank You particularly for Your mighty works in my life. Holy Spirit, help me to always remember all the marvelous and awesome deeds of God in the Bible, in my life, and in the lives of others. Father, I shall constantly give thought to all your miracles.
(For over 400 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
