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| Photo by Valerie Lynn Jones |
Remember.
It is a prerequisite to thanksgiving. Remembering things that have been done, calling them to mind, naming them...but more importantly, identifying God's role in what is being remembered.
For if we only remember the apparent absence of good (or God), we are forgetting what is True.
Truth may not be what is apparent; Truth supersedes it. The Truth about what has been done often surpasses our understanding and our experiences. But when we remember what it is True, we find joy and peace, and more promise of what good is to come.
The experience for God's chosen people was wandering in the desolate wilderness for years without the comforts of home. The Truth was God's provision and miraculous works every step of their journey, even after they sinned against Him.
And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Deuteronomy 5:15
The tangible pain of His followers was a world in turmoil and the loss of their Rabbi to a violent sinner's death for which He had done nothing wrong. The Truth was a redeeming Promise of life everlasting and oneness with Him forevermore.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:19-20
Truth rises through what appears as lack, pain, confusion, brokenness, deceit...to restore hope, peace, comfort, joy, love...Truth. If only we remember to remember Truth. In remembering the truth of the goodness of God, we can find and give thanks.
There is so much good to remember, so much thanks to give. He IS GOD and is worthy of the honor given through humble gratitude. And that alone should be sufficient.
But then the miraculous happens.
"Thanksgiving always precedes the miracle." - Ann Voskamp
Giving thanks is a way of remembering the good, the miraculous, the greatness of God, and the remembering opens our hearts and minds to faith in Him with hope for more. Remembering incites us to do His good and believe for His good. He responds to our faith, not because He must, but because He can and He is good. He is loving and merciful to those who believe, who remember, who give thanks.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, 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. Philippians 4:6-7
And so we thank Him and He responds by building our faith with more of His presence. We find ourselves full of joy and peace when it doesn't make sense. We find ourselves protected and strengthened when we are at our weakest. We find more of Him, and less of us and this broken world. We find ourselves with Him.
Isn't that why throughout the centuries He calls upon His people to remember? So they will never be far from Him? He is God whose heart's desire is to be with us.
This is the one true God who is worthy of thanksgiving every breath of every day. He is Creator, Provider, Healer, Comforter, Father, Friend, Savior. May remembering be the way we think and thankfulness the way we speak so all deserved glory goes to Him who gave everything for us!
He IS the miraculous.
Remember.
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