Throughout the Commonwealth, November 11 is Remembrance Day, a reference to the First World War. Remembering the past will influence our choices today that protect our future. A principle that is also useful for our personal life.
If we do not remember, we will not succeed. The battle is too fierce; the struggle of the Christian life is too difficult. Remembering who God is and what He does for us is not an option: it is a commandment (Psalms 78: 2-8)! We must remember it and be able to tell it to future generations (Joel 1:3).
Perhaps you have already felt depression invading you as you see more marriages around you. Singleness sometimes comes with the feeling of being forgotten or neglected by God and by people of the opposite sex. In the midst of our self-pity, the last thing we want to hear is “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23 NKJV).
Let’s face it, a charming bachelor, or a beautiful young woman would be a pretty desirable option to pull us out from the quicksand of despondency! All singles who yearn for marriage pray to meet the right person and God hears. In the meantime, however, our answer must be filled with thankfulness, because when we offer our gratitude to God, we can literally transform the face of our singleness. Instead of remaining in a painful and constraining experience, we enter a world of joy and fulfillment.
If we write 100 reasons to be grateful for what we already have (Philippians 4:11-12), we will discover 100 reasons to stop crying over our singleness and to glorify God. It’s worth thinking about: What does the Lord allow me to do or acquire during my time of being single? Who are the people He uses to bless me or in the life of which I have the opportunity to be a source of blessing? What are the gifts, talents, dreams, and projects that develop in me? What are the needs and desires that the Lord satisfies for me? Let’s put these things in writing and place them in a prominent place to remember them when we are tempted to have a pity-party.
By identifying the areas of our life that are under attack and determining what we need to remember to stand firm against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:16-17), we will also move forward. It can be biblical stories, verses, the testimony of other Christians around us, or words that we have received directly from the Holy Spirit. Be that as it may, our faith needs to be nourished to hold firm and if faith comes from the Word of God (Romans 10:17), it obviously does not come from a passage we do not know, but by a text that we can remember. Having in hand a list of things we want to remember during times of spiritual warfare, we will be prepared to face the challenges against which we already have a sure victory (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When we remember God’s goodness, we are able to live a life that honors Him. Recognition, in fact, has its roots in our ability to perceive the action of God in our lives and those of others. Each of us is called to be an artist who paints a fresco of memories to stimulate our thankfulness toward the Lord: ours and the generations to come. My question for you is this: What do you have to paint to the Lord today?