Remember Who He Is
How often are we quick to forget the truths about who God is? Not long ago, I was sitting among friends feeling very defeated and discouraged when one friend asked the group what God had been showing us through His Word and in our lives. My heart was heavy, and my mind was racing. Shame started to creep in when I couldn’t join the conversation.
The truth was that I didn’t know what God had been trying to show me because I hadn’t asked. At the time, I had just begun the process of an intense form of trauma therapy. While I was sitting with my friends that day, I knew that I had not been inviting God into the pain and disappointments that had been uncovered. In fact, the image that came to mind was of a tiny room filled with clutter from floor to ceiling, and I was forcefully leaning against the door with both arms trying to keep everyone and everything out. I felt alone and isolated in all of the brokenness and chaos.
One friend spoke up and shared what she had been reading in Scripture recently. Deuteronomy 6:10-13, “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.”
Just hearing those verses read aloud broke down some of the defenses that I had built up. It was as if my heart responded, “Oh that’s right. That is who He is. That is the God I serve.”
These words were written by Moses as a reminder to the Israelites of the promises God had made many generations back. When I reflect on what these verses tell me about God, I find so much strength and comfort.
He does what He says He will do.
He sees the bigger picture.
He is wildly generous.
He holds all power and authority.
His hand is at work making preparations long before we arrive.
He is our Rescuer.
He honors obedience.
JOURNAL PROMPT: When you read through these verses what stands out to you about God?
If you go back to the beginning of Deuteronomy 6, Moses begins by instructing the people to remember the commands God had given them as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land.
In verses 4-9, Moses says, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Man, oh man–do I relate! Just like the Israelites, I need these instructions.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
Commit wholeheartedly to Him.
Do not miss an opportunity to tell your children about who He is and what He has done.
Write it down. Make notes. Hang them in obvious, visible places, so that you will see them and not forget the goodness of God, His promises, and His power.
ACTIVATION: Take some time this week to write down some of your favorite Scriptures and place notes in your car or on your phone so that you can be encouraged by them throughout the day. Tell a friend, spouse, or your children about a time in your life when God’s goodness and faithfulness were evident.
I was quick to forget some of these truths recently; but I’m grateful that in my moment of weakness and forgetfulness, the Lord was gracious enough to use a friend, who had been faithfully seeking Him on her own, as a reminder of who He is and who He has always been. May we all be determined to commit the truths of His character to our hearts and minds so that we are readily able to encourage ourselves and others when the burdens of life begin to feel too heavy and we start to forget.
PRAYER PROMPT: Spend some time thanking God for who He is. Share with Him anything that feels heavy and invite Him to speak into those situations. Write down anything you feel like He is saying to you and then take a few minutes to reflect and rest in His presence.
The truth was that I didn’t know what God had been trying to show me because I hadn’t asked. At the time, I had just begun the process of an intense form of trauma therapy. While I was sitting with my friends that day, I knew that I had not been inviting God into the pain and disappointments that had been uncovered. In fact, the image that came to mind was of a tiny room filled with clutter from floor to ceiling, and I was forcefully leaning against the door with both arms trying to keep everyone and everything out. I felt alone and isolated in all of the brokenness and chaos.
One friend spoke up and shared what she had been reading in Scripture recently. Deuteronomy 6:10-13, “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.”
Just hearing those verses read aloud broke down some of the defenses that I had built up. It was as if my heart responded, “Oh that’s right. That is who He is. That is the God I serve.”
These words were written by Moses as a reminder to the Israelites of the promises God had made many generations back. When I reflect on what these verses tell me about God, I find so much strength and comfort.
He does what He says He will do.
He sees the bigger picture.
He is wildly generous.
He holds all power and authority.
His hand is at work making preparations long before we arrive.
He is our Rescuer.
He honors obedience.
JOURNAL PROMPT: When you read through these verses what stands out to you about God?
If you go back to the beginning of Deuteronomy 6, Moses begins by instructing the people to remember the commands God had given them as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land.
In verses 4-9, Moses says, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Man, oh man–do I relate! Just like the Israelites, I need these instructions.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
Commit wholeheartedly to Him.
Do not miss an opportunity to tell your children about who He is and what He has done.
Write it down. Make notes. Hang them in obvious, visible places, so that you will see them and not forget the goodness of God, His promises, and His power.
ACTIVATION: Take some time this week to write down some of your favorite Scriptures and place notes in your car or on your phone so that you can be encouraged by them throughout the day. Tell a friend, spouse, or your children about a time in your life when God’s goodness and faithfulness were evident.
I was quick to forget some of these truths recently; but I’m grateful that in my moment of weakness and forgetfulness, the Lord was gracious enough to use a friend, who had been faithfully seeking Him on her own, as a reminder of who He is and who He has always been. May we all be determined to commit the truths of His character to our hearts and minds so that we are readily able to encourage ourselves and others when the burdens of life begin to feel too heavy and we start to forget.
PRAYER PROMPT: Spend some time thanking God for who He is. Share with Him anything that feels heavy and invite Him to speak into those situations. Write down anything you feel like He is saying to you and then take a few minutes to reflect and rest in His presence.
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3 Comments
I love the vulnerability Meghen . Thank you for your authenticity and pointing us to His word for encouragement !
Love this, I can definitely relate! Thanks for sharing this and those verses 🩷
Meghen. Thank you for your transparency in revealing the season you were in and how we are never alone. He is always with us!