Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? . . . I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. (Ps. 77:8, 11)
THE MARRIAGE THERAPIST gave one task to the feuding couple. He told them to recall three times when the other did something nice for them. The wife crossed her legs and then her arms. “Humph,” she replied. “I honestly can’t remember.”
It is easy to feel that way when we are hurting or angry. One of my Bible studies, P.R.A.Y.I.N.G: Bringing Power and Purpose to Your Prayers, talks about the R as recounting God’s blessings. This is a necessary part of our prayer life, as the psalmist discovered during his prayer in Psalm 77.
When the trees of anger, hurt, bewilderment or worry are looming around us, all seems dark and gloomy. It is hard to see the forest of God’s loving acts. But if we can recall and then pray back to Him the times He has blessed us in the past, our hope becomes renewed. One by one, those negative emotions are axed down. The Son shines through. We feel His love once again. We are no longer in such an ominous, scary place. We are in His light.
Recall what God has done in the past to renew your hope for the future.
Julie B. Cosgrove is a widowed Christian author and speaker who lives in Fort Worth, Texas. She is involved with women’s and outreach ministries.
