WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DECEMBER 13, 2021
TOPIC: ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PAST MIRACLES OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE
BY T. O. BANSO
âThe children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them. Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoanâ (Psalm 78:9-12 New King James Version).
It seems that human beings are too quick to forget what God did for them in the past. They donât often keep memories of the Lordâs wonders and appreciate Him for long. Talking about the sin of the Israelites and their ancestors, the psalmist says, âOur fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, but rebelled by the sea â the Red Seaâ (Psalm 106:7 New King James Version).
The psalmist also says in verses 13-15, âThey soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soulâ (New King James Version).
The children of Ephraim, most likely referring to all Israelites, were also accused of a similar thing. âThe children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them. Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoanâ (Psalm 78:9-12 New King James Version).
However, David was not like the children or warriors of Ephraim. Though he was not enlisted in the army of Israel under Saul, he didnât run away on the day of battle. He remembered Godâs miracles in the past â how he killed the lion and the bear that took a lamb out of the stock. He decided to confront Goliath despite the discouragement from Saul, who respected Goliathâs reputation of being a man of war from his youth compared to David who was only a youth (1 Samuel 17:33).
David was not impressed by Goliathâs reputation. ââYour servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.â Moreover David said, âThe 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.â And Saul said to David, âGo, and the LORD be with you!ââ (1 Samuel 17:36-37 New King James Version). God honoured Davidâs faith in Him and delivered Goliath into his hand. He killed Goliath because he remembered what God did for him in the past and believed Him to do it again.
Psalm 77:11-15 says, âI will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Josephâ (New King James Version). You should emulate David. Donât forget the signs and wonders of God, especially in your life.
David says in Psalm 143:5, âI remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your handsâ (New King James Version). If you can remember the wonderful deeds of the Lord, His wonders in the past, especially in your life, you can believe Him to do much more for you in any negative circumstance you find yourself, and concerning any challenge confronting you. Such remembrance will provoke your faith. That was what happened to David. He fought with Goliath and killed him. God is faithful
In Matthew 11, Jesus denounced the cities where He did most of the miracles in His ministry because they didnât repent, despite the visible mighty works He did among them. They were not moved by them. He said if the mighty works He did in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Therefore, it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for these cities (verses 21-22).
He also said if the mighty works He did in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, its people would have stopped sinning and it would have remained a city till then (not destroyed). Therefore, it would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for Capernaum (verses 23-24). Donât be like these cities.
Forget not the wonderful works of the Lord. Remember the marvelous works He has done in your life. Meditate on them and worship Him. Appreciate them; donât take them for granted. âSeek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouthâ (Psalm 105:4-5 New King James Version). Forget not His benefits; forget not the good things He did for you in the past (Psalm 103:2).
If you remember what the Lord did for you in the past, His deliverance, His victory, youâll never be anxious about anything or afraid of any enemy or the present challenge confronting you. Your attitude will be like that of David that the Lord who did it before will do it again. Philippians 1:28 says you should not in any way be terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. David wasnât intimidated by Goliath, the Philistine champion.
He declared to Goliath, âYou come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our handsâ (1 Samuel 17:45-47 New King James Version). It happened exactly as he had said.
Philippians 4:6-7 says you should not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).
Always remember Godâs past miracles in your life. It will boost your faith in God and cast out fear or anxiety. âIf you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ â you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egyptâ (Deuteronomy 7:17-18 New King James Version).
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 that 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 â 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, forgive me for forgetting Your past miracles in my life. I will no longer be anxious or afraid of any situation but will remember Your past miracles in my life and give You all the glory. I trust You to do much more for me this season and give me new testimonies. I shall not in any way be terrified by my adversaries, for You will save me and defeat them.
(For over 800 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,
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