What was the Question?

Do you have a good memory? We remember things we want to, period. All too often we fall back on the excuse of a poor memory when confronted by someone whose name momentarily escapes us. I have to be honest; this was my excuse for years.

We have the ability to remember, but it seems we just don’t remember that many things anymore. I believe this memory non-use is not a matter of memory ability, but a matter of choice. How many times do you hear a song and you are able to sing along with the lyrics? How many things are in your memory? Passwords? Addresses? Your Social Security number, and your Driver’s License number? We choose to remember what is important to us, period. And when we don’t remember. we are basically saying it is not important enough to…or that something else is more important.

I am sure technology plays a part in this laziness. Seriously, why remember phone numbers when you can tell some phones to call “Dave” and they will recite back a list of numbers in your contact list with the first name “Dave” in them? Why bother, right? Have you ever really needed a phone number, and been without your cell phone with all of its contacts? Have you ever called or texted someone and they responded with “Who is this? Sorry, but I lost my cell that had all of my contacts”. It's like without caller ID, we haven’t a clue…

We need to get back to what is important, and start committing those things to memory. For example: Scripture. The Bible is chock-full of truth. Truth that is useful, inspiring, informing, and correcting. Look at this passage:

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NIV)

Do we treat God’s Word like this? Or do we treat it like if we need it, we know where to find it? It's good to know where to look, but we react based on the information inside of us. And if you want to know what is inside of someone, just see how they respond under pressure, as that seems to bring out the best in us, right? By memorizing Scripture we accomplish two things: First, we are practicing a Spiritual Discipline and second, we are storing up stuff inside of us, preparing for the pressures to come.

It's like filling your internal toolbox with the best available tools for all of life’s potential ups, downs, and sideways! When you look at it that way, it doesn’t sound so awful.

So what do you say? Think it is important enough to try? Or maybe you were wondering what the question was again…

…just sayin’

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat