A Book of Remembrance

Though I have a number of very favourite or treasured verses I continually recall, there are a few that give me great encouragement and great hope.  Some I have copied and posted in my home, some I have highlighted or underlined and some I have recorded alongside God’s work or answers to prayer, continued petitions, blessings and other heartfelt matters written  in journals.

As I’ve been slowly reading through the Word this year, I’ve been sort of surprised at the number of verses I’ve underlined or highlighted.   I’ve been continually blessed and encouraged  by dated notes beside significant verses or passages.  Some dates or notes point to events I’ve forgotten — others remind me afresh of the great goodness of the Lord.  Still others remind me of the great faithfulness of the Lord.

And so, it is these two things that have prompted this writing today: The Goodness and Faithfulness of the Lord.  Sort of hand in hand with the verse in Philippians 4.8 that says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

God’s Goodness and God’s Faithfulness

Then they that feared the LORD
spake often one to another:
and the LORD hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
—Malachi 3.16

And we do need to be reminded to think on these things, don’t we!?!  For if we don’t determine to think on these things, we tend to think on things that are not true, things that are not honest, things that are not just, things that are not pure, things that are not lovely, things that are not of good report… we tend to drift from virtue and forget praise… we tend not to think on these things.

We must be daily in the Word, we must be daily in prayer, daily in praise and thanksgiving…

That verse in Malachi that I quoted above has particular significance for us — for it is packed with information, admonition, instruction and edification!   As you read it and reread it, you will see it, too.  There are so many things to take away from this verse!  Fear the Lord.  Speak often to one another about Him.  He will listen! He will hear!  He will inspire the writing of His dealings… and it will be for those who fear Him — those who love Him and think on Him.

Your life is a marvelous opportunity!  Your life is a blessing!

So, I’d like to admonish you (or encourage you, at least) to write!  Write what He has done for you.  Write what He has done in you.  Write what He has done through you.  Write what He has done in answer to prayer.  Write a book of remembrance…  let it take time… let it take the rest of your life… but start writing a book of remembrance.  Share your stories with others!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, count your many blessings: see what God has done.