This weeks blog by Jacqui Crumrine – Associate Pastor, Worship and Arts
One of the ways that God invites us to worship is to REMEMBER Him and what He has done. The word “remember” is used over 160 times in the Bible. It is a vital part of a prophets message as they called people back to God. As Godās children, we are extended the same invitation to remember. What is it about remembering that is so important? Scripture guides us in that…
Deuteronomy 8:2 Ā (Remember your deliverance)
“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you will obey his commands.”
Psalm 77:11 (Remember and worship!)
“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly on my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”
Isaiah 46:9 (Remember who God is)
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”
John 14:26 (Remember, so that you can proclaim Jesus!)
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said it you.” (ESV)
Acts 20:35 (Remember Jesusā teaching, and live it out)
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: āIt is more blessed to give than to receive.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (Remember Jesusā sacrifice)
“In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his peopleāan agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.ā”
Revelation 2:5 (Remember Godās work; repent of sin)
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
Wow! And thatās only 7 verses about “remembering”.
Often, worship starts with remembering. After all, when we remember who God is, and what He has done, we canāt help but find ourselves in a posture of awe, surrender, praise, and devotion. “Way Maker” is one of those songs that give us the words and the space to remember and worship. Unlike other blogs, I want to give you some homework before we go any farther. For each of these phrases that describe Godās character and/or what He has done, I want you to write down how you have experienced that in your life. Go ahead. Take some time and sit with each of these phrases.Ā When youāre done…keep reading.
Way Maker:Ā How has God made a way for you? For others?
Miracle Worker:Ā What miracles have you seen? What about examples in the Bible?
Promise Keeper:Ā How has God kept His promises? What promises?
Light in the Darkness:Ā How have you seen Jesus in the darkest times? How does God shine in the darkness?
The order of these descriptions of God is not lost on me. How important it is for us to remember Godās power, authority, and promises because, eventually, we are going to find ourselves in a season of darkness. Some call it the “dark night of the soul” or the “wall”. That season of darkness is when we canāt seem to feel or find God. He seems distant. Or silent. Or absent. Even just typing those, I remember my own “dark nights”. What did I do? I remembered Godās faithfulness and His promises and with what little strength I had, I worshipped while I waited for the Light in the darkness.
When we know Godās faithfulness we can sing “Even when I donāt see it, Youāre working. Even when I donāt feel it, Youāre working. You never stop, You never stop working!ā “
John 5:17
“Jesus replied, ‘My Father is always working, and so am Iāā
THAT is the power of remembrance. No matter what we are going through, remember and know that God is always at work. When we canāt see it, or feel it, we can always go back to what God has already done because He is faithful! Keep that list of things that you wrote down. Use that list to worship, especially when we sing this song! Let these experiences with God fuel how you worship Him! Get in the practice of daily remembering Godās faithfulness.
AND, donāt forget to share it with others! These powerful experiences help others see how God is at work in their lives…because He IS working in their lives.
