CJ Students | Remember | "Title"

When you think about the soundtracks in your mind and what you tell yourself, what do you generally say?

Are they positive and encouraging?

Or, are they negative and defeating?

What do you think about when you think about yourself, your friends, family, or even complete strangers?

Our thoughts have great power over our lives.

In fact, our lives tend to move toward our strongest thoughts.

So, if you think one way about yourself or someone else, then your life tends to drift that way. If you think positive, true, and faithful thoughts about yourself and others, then your life tends to move in that direction.

Likewise, if you think negative, untrue, and unfaithful thoughts about yourself and others, then your life will move in that direction.

Several reasons account for this, such as our environment (meaning, where live, play, and study), who we allow to influence our lives.

My grandfather once said to me that you become the company you keep.

***But another way that our lives move toward our strongest thoughts is by what we choose to remember.

During my teenage years, one of the memories that often appeared in my mind was the day that dad my left.

As a result of what he did, a soundtrack started to play on repeat that said: ‘you’re not worth it’

Over time, this soundtrack started to play so loud that it drowned out many of the good memories of when others in my life showed me acceptance and love.

In high school, my class always elected me for student council, homecoming, and prom courts. Yet, I couldn’t mute the soundtrack in my mind that continued to say: ‘you’re not worth it.’

Almost as soon as I would receive my award or attention from others, I would FORGET how others thought and felt about me and, instead, return to my soundtrack.

And I don’t think I am alone. I think all of us do this, especially in matters of faith.

We so often forget the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives.

As I have grown older and experienced healing from the soundtrack of my youth, I have realized that I often forget what God has done for me, how he has provided for me, and the continual love and grace that he daily shows me.

I so easily FORGET, and I think many of you do, too.

There’s an old song lyric that says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.”

I believe these lyric speaks to the experience of every Jesus follower.

Our hearts are prone to wander, and our minds are prone to forget.

Our soundtracks dominate our thinking, and we’re left with the war that wages in our mind, forgetting the goodness, faithfulness, and presence of God, along with those who desire to truly love and know us.

This has been the way of life and sin from the very beginning. We’re prone to wander, and we’re prone to forget.

One of the ways that we can directly combat this, however, is by creating rhythms of spiritual engagement with God called ‘spiritual disciplines.’

***I know, the word discipline makes me cringe, too. But discipline is a good thing.

Who likes earning A’s? That takes discipline. Who likes excelling in their sport or music? That takes discipline. Who enjoys making great friends? Believe it or not, that takes discipline, too!

Discipline simply means self-control to do what is right. Like all things, time with God takes discipline.

A spiritual discipline is essentially anything that leads yourself into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

That simple.

Let me say it again: A spiritual discipline is essentially anything leads yourself into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Examples of spiritual discipline are: prayer, bible reading, worship, making church and CJ students are a regular part of your life, and having good conversations with others about God. There are many other kinds of spiritual disciplines, but if you begin with these, then you would be well on your way to a growing a real and deep relationship with Jesus.

As you seek to cultivate these disciplines into your life, I want to invite you to consider another kind of spiritual discipline.

I want to introduce to you the spiritual discipline of “remembrance.”

The act of remembrance as a spiritual discipline means giving your mind’s attention to God’s presence in your life.

We don’t often talk about the act of remembrance as a spiritual discipline. In fact, we often don’t talk about remembering anything at all, but it is all over God’s Word. Why? Because we’re so prone to wander and so prone to forget!

So for the next few moments, I want to explore this idea with you by examining a few moments throughout the Bible when God called his people to practice the spiritual discipline of remembrance.

So, let’s begin in the beginning… in the book of Genesis chapter 12, the very first book in the Bible, when God did something extraordinary.

In chapter 12 verse 2, God speaks to a man named Abram, saying: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse; and all of the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3

This is the first moment in human history since Adam and Eve’s sin that God speaks to a human being, and God announces that he is going to bless the world through the family of this one man, Abram, because he loves his good creation and his people and refuses to let it drift into destruction because of sin.

This moment changed everything in human history.

The relationship that God begins with Abram, whose name later changes to Abraham because of his faithfulness to God, eventually culminates in God entering into our world through the person of Jesus Christ and later giving the gift of his Spirit alive in every person who believes in him.

This is the first step in God’s redemptive plan to save the world from sin, and how did Abram respond?

He builds an altar.

Genesis 12:7 states, “Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” Genesis 12:7

Why did Abram build an alter? Quite simply to remember! He marked the moment and place when God appeared to him with an altar so that all who follow after him may remember when God’s presence first appeared to announce blessing for the world.

Abram constructed a moment of remembrance as an act of spiritual discipline.

Think about your life for a moment. When was a moment when you experienced God’s presence?

When was the last time that you thought about that moment?

In a tik tok world, it’s so easy to move on from a moment every 15 seconds and forget the meaning of that moment or, worse, forget the moment altogether.

The act of remembrance solidifies a moment in our memory, including all the feels and emotions of that moment. Science shows that when you access a memory in your mind, your physiological response replays that memory JUST AS IF it was happening right now in real life.

One of the ways that we sustain our faith is by remembering when God intervened… or responded to our prayer… or surprised us with his grace… and feeling those feels all over again.

It’s like a fresh shower that cleanses us from our doubts, fears, and worries.

King David, who wrote the majority of the Psalms in the Bible, wrote about the act of remembrance in exactly this way in Psalm 77.

I’m going to read it, and I want you to listen for two main ideas from the Psalm: first, listen to the questions that David posed to God. Have you ever asked God these same questions? And then second, listen for when David transitions from questioning to remembering.

Psalm 77 NLT

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

Psalm 77 is timeless.

Questions like: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

We all have doubted and asked , “God, why have you left me.” “Where are you?”

Hardships escape no one. They’re real and present. No one is immune from David’s questions. We all feel them and ask them. There is no age limit. These questions don’t skip over races or ethnicities or socioeconomic statuses. It doesn’t skip over those with good behavior or bad behavior.

Yet, at the same time, Psalm 77 doesn’t end with those questions, does it?! No!

David closes the Psalm by remembering God’s faithfulness. He appeals to God’s track record and puts his faith in God’s revealed character over time.

He also remembered when God showed up for others. In verse 15 David wrote, “With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.”

This verse is so significant because David recognized that his faith exists in himself within the fellowship of other believers.

He didn’t have exclusive rights to Jesus, and neither do we. Rather, Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20

Which means: as we commit to grow together in friendship and love and continue inviting others to grow with us, then we build a foundation on which to create new memories and help each another remember God’s goodness and grace in our lives in fresh, exciting ways!

We need each other.

One of the ways that we practice the spiritual discipline of remembrance is by sharing our stories to one another and reminding each other of the bigness of God and the faithfulness of God when we doubt, go through pain and hardships, and face the enemy’s arrows.

This is THE BEST and MOST EFFECTIVE way to silence the negative - and often times, untrue - soundtracks in our minds.

In fact, we read in Revelation 12:11 “They have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” Revelation 12:11

What defeats evil? Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and remembering your stories of when God showed his goodness and faithfulness to you!

Period!

The act of remembrance is a spiritual discipline that engages each one us on our own and all of us together.

When I hear your stories, I’m encouraged and my faith grows.

During a challenging time for the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul picks up on this spiritual discipline and encouraged those in need by calling them back to Jesus’ own words about remembrance, saying:

“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

In whatever circumstance or situation that might arise for you, Jesus said remember me. Remember what I taught. Remember what I’ve done for you. Remember who I am and my love for you.

Each time we participate in communion, we participate in the spiritual act of remembrance.

But, here’s where I need to issue you a warning.

As you seek to make remembrance part of your rhythm of faith spiritual discipline, at some point you may encounter the temptation to stay by your alter and live in the past experiences of your relationship with Jesus - you know, the good ol days.

Listen again to what Paul wrote in verse 26, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Paul’s words are crucial here because the true act of remembrance seeks to propel you forward!

To remember Jesus together means that we live his way of life here and now toward a future that helps others find and follow him.

So, may you take up the act of remembrance as a spiritual discipline. May you take this rock as a building block to remember the alters of your life when God redeemed you, rescued you, and saved you from despair. May you remember that your faith is not your own but tangled up in a crazy web called CJ Students at Christ Journey Church. And may you come to participate in God’s ongoing redemptive plan in ways that you have never imagined!

Pray...

Small Group Questions:

1. What tend to be your most powerful thoughts?

2. Do you remember a time when God showed up for you? Share it with your group.

3. What doubts, fears, or worries tend to overshadow your memory of God working in your life?

4. How might you incorporate the act of remembrance into your regular rhythms and discipline of faith?

Hint: jot down a “remembrance moment”once a week in a place where you will see it on a regular basis.

Hint: start every small group with sharing your moments from the past week when God showed up for you and proved his faithfulness.