Remember—and Move Forward

Scripture Promise

“Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.”
—Psalm 105:5

This week we have been remembering the life of my brother and my parents. Telling sweet stories, funny things that have happened over our lifetime with him. I read the scripture above and was moved by remembering what God has done.

The Hebrew word translated “remember” is zakar. It means more than recalling information or revisiting a memory. In Scripture, remembering is purposeful. It brings God’s character, His works, and His Word back into the center of our thinking—and then calls us to respond.

God doesn’t want us to forget. Biblical remembering is an action of faith.

We remember what God has said.
We remember what God has done.
We remember that His character has not changed.
Then, strengthened by that truth, we move forward.

The Problem We Face

Difficult circumstances can cause us to forget. we face a trauma, a diagnosis or a giant electric bill-

We may not forget God completely, but we can lose sight of His faithfulness.

The pressure of what is happening today can become greater in our minds than everything God has already done.

Fear remembers every possibility of failure.
Anxiety remembers every unanswered question.
Discouragement remembers every disappointment.

But faith deliberately remembers God.

When we forget His faithfulness, our thoughts become controlled by what we see, feel, and fear.

We begin to make present decisions as though God has never helped us, never spoken to us, and never made us a promise.

This is why remembering is foundational. Before we can move forward confidently, we must bring the truth about God back into our thinking.

God’s Solution: Remember

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”
—Lamentations 3:21–22

Jeremiah made an intentional decision: “This I recall to my mind.”

Hope returned when he remembered.

His circumstances had not yet changed, but his focus did.

He deliberately brought God’s mercy and faithfulness back into his thinking. That remembrance shifted his mindset and restored his hope.

Remembering is not denying that the battle is real. It is refusing to face the battle while forgetting who God is.

David did this before facing Goliath. He remembered how God had delivered him from the lion and the bear:

“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.”
—1 Samuel 17:37

David used yesterday’s deliverance as evidence for today’s battle. He remembered—and then he moved forward.

Remembering Is Faithfulness

Remembering is a way of remaining faithful to:

• What God has already said
• What God is presently speaking through His Word
• What God has promised to accomplish

God told Israel repeatedly to remember because remembrance would keep their hearts anchored to Him.

“And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness.”
—Deuteronomy 8:2

They were not to remember only the difficulty of the wilderness. They were to remember that God led them through it.

The wilderness was not merely a place of lack. It was also a place of God’s leadership, provision, protection, correction, and faithfulness.

What you remember about a difficult season will shape what you carry into the next one.

If you remember only the pain, you may move forward afraid.

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But when you also remember how God sustained you, taught you, protected you, and brought you through, remembrance becomes strength for your next step.

Remembering Strengthens

“I 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.”
—Psalm 77:11–12

Remembering strengthens us because it interrupts the voice of fear.

It reminds us:

• God has not changed.
• God has not abandoned us.
• His Word is still true.
• His promises have not expired.
• What He has done before proves that He is faithful now.

Psalm 105 presents both sides of this powerful truth:

“Remember His marvelous works which He has done.”
—Psalm 105:5

“He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.”
—Psalm 105:8

We remember what God has done because God remembers what He has promised.

God’s Protocol: How to Remember and Move Forward

1. Stop and remember who God is

Before you rehearse the problem again, rehearse the character of God.

He is faithful.
He is present.
He is your Provider.
He is your Healer.
He is your Deliverer.
He is your Shepherd.
He is the God who keeps His Word.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
—Psalm 103:2

2. Remember what God has already done

Look back over your life. Write down the prayers He has answered, the doors He has opened, the provision He has supplied, and the seasons He has carried you through.

3. Remember what God has said

Return to the promises in His Word. Read them. Write them. Speak them aloud. Keep them where you can see them.

Do not allow the circumstances to have the final word in your mind. Bring your thoughts back under the authority of what God has spoken.

“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.”
—Psalm 119:49

4. Allow remembrance to shift your mindset

Ask yourself:

Am I thinking only about what is happening, or am I also remembering what God has said?

Remembrance changes the direction of our thoughts. It moves us from fear to faith, from confusion to confidence, and from despair to expectation.

5. Take the next faithful step

David remembered God’s deliverance, but he did not remain beside the brook. He selected his stones, approached Goliath, and moved toward the battle.

Remembrance should produce movement.

Pray the prayer.
Make the call.
Prepare what God placed in your hands.
Obey His instruction.
Take the next step.

You do not need to see the entire path. You only need to remember who is leading you and faithfully take the step before you.

A Good Word

You may be facing something today that you have never faced before, but you are not facing it with a God who has never helped you before.

Remember.

Remember the prayers He has answered.
Remember the doors He has opened.
Remember the battles He has brought you through.
Remember the promises He has spoken.
Remember His faithfulness in every previous season.

Remembering is the foundation.
Remembering strengthens your faith.
Remembering shifts your mindset.

Remembering prepares you to move forward.

Do not allow the pressure of the present moment to erase the evidence of God’s faithfulness.

Remember what God has done. Stand firmly upon what God has said. Then move forward in faith, trusting Him with what He will do next.

We live for Jesus.

To God Be All the Glory,

Deborah (Mills) Booth