Remembering God's Goodness

Joshua 3:17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Some people are exceptionally good at remembering images or information. Yet forgetting God’s goodness is all too common, even for those with the sharpest of minds.

In light of the human tendency to forget, today’s verses offer a good example for us to follow. God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and safely through the divided Red Sea. Now, He miraculously provided another dry path by piling up the Jordan’s waters in an enormous heap upstream.

The Lord knew that the people were about to enter Jericho, and by His power, they would overcome the city. How compassionate to encourage them with a tangible illustration of His strength and presence prior to such a battle.

But God also knew how easily they would forget Him. We do the same today—when the Lord works in big and obvious ways, it’s easy to trust Him. But as time goes on, we drift toward self-reliance until we are reminded of our need for Him and repent. So the Father had a plan to help His loved ones recall the miracle at the river. He asked them to create an altar of 12 stones, each stone representing a tribe of Israel that had passed safely through the waters. This way, they would have a physical reminder of divine rescue.

When it comes to blessings, do you tend to be forgetful? If so, try to create reminders of God’s faithfulness. Some people journal; others make a gratitude jar, keep it in a prominent place in their home, and fill it all year long. There are many ways to make expressing thankfulness a part of your daily schedule. Whatever you do, make sure you have a way to remember the Lord’s involvement in your life.

Credit: NAS - Charles Stanley - In Touch - HS