Day Two Hundred Seventeen “Memory Loss”
Some days I find myself at a loss for words, literally. As a lingering side-effect of my long bout with Lyme disease, I sometimes lose words. They are common, uncomplicated words, but suddenly and without warning, they are gone, wiped from my memory banks like an eraser sweeping across a chalkboard. Those teeny Lyme bacteria can burrow into the brain and cause inflammation, and that swelling can permanently impact the mind and the nervous system, leading to a long-term symptom referred to as brain fog. As a result of that brain fog, I often find myself holding a spoon, or a phone, or possibly my wallet, and unable to come up with the term to describe the item. The temporary amnesia passes after I struggle for a few long moments, desperately trying to open the file cabinet of my brain to recall the word, or I give up completely and and wait for my husband to remind me of the term for which I am so desperately searching. It is a bit of a scary situation to which I have become accustomed, but I hope that I never become passive to another common disease, and that is spiritual amnesia.
The children of Israel fell victim to memory loss time and time again. In order to rescue them from the slavery of Egypt, God, “with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm…Smote Egypt in their firstborn…brought out Israel from among them…divided the Red Sea into parts…made Israel to pass through the midst of it…overthrew Pharaoh…led his people through the wilderness…smote great kings…and gave their land for an heritage,” He did it all! He miraculously supplied manna, quail, water, and raiment “that waxed not old,” to remind them that He was the sole source of their supply. Yet this blessed people developed memory loss in regards to the grace and mercy of God. Their walk was constantly characterized by complaining, murmuring, rebellion, and blatant disobedience. Perhaps that is why the psalmist challenged God’s people to “Give thanks unto the LORD,” for when our perspective is one of praise and thanksgiving, there remains little time for griping, complaining, and moaning.
A good way to reestablish a thankful heart is to set time aside, deliberately and purposefully, to ponder the past provisions given to us by the hand of our Father. If you are in a rough patch of life and need a moment of praise, read through Psalm 136 aloud and dwell on the phrase “for his mercy endureth forever,” a phrase that is repeated a whopping twenty-six times! Perhaps God is trying to drive home a point? We serve a God Who is always faithful to His promises, Who offers love, mercy, and grace to those who are the least deserving. Spend a moment in praise today!
Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Thanksgiving. Lord, help me to make every day a day of thanks, a day of praise for all that You have done for me. Forgive me when I overlook Your past miracles in my life, for the glorious gift of salvation. Thank You doesn’t seem sufficient.
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