Hope

Remembering Grace

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. – Psalm 111:4

Over the last year, memories have played a crucial role in my life. Memories of my dad have been at the forefront, as I recall the wonderful father and exemplary man of God that he was. However, beyond just these poignant memories have been reminders of how God has worked even in the midst of our sadness. As we faced new trials, it was these memories that propelled us to keep walking forward. It was the recollection of God’s acts of grace – from thanksgiving for our assured salvation to His provision of comfort to the airline ticket we needed at just the last minute – that prompted us to continue to look towards Him even when we thought we couldn’t handle yet another thing. We recalled how He had provided, and trusted that He would provide again.

And while I’m so grateful for these moments that I can look back on, Psalm 111 tells us that even these memories are an act of God’s grace. As the verse states “He [emphasis mine] has caused his wondrous works to be remembered…” It’s easy to think that I’m bringing up these memories, that I’m encouraging myself through looking back on what God has done. But this verse says that this looking back is not from me. These memories, these recollections of graciousness are in themselves an act of love, because they point us back to Him.

What a precious and loving God we serve, that He not only provides His grace, but He causes us to recall His provision, and trust anew in Him.

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Relationships

Praying with Purpose

In Christian circles, it’s not uncommon that when someone shares a tough situation that’s happening in their life, that the person they are conversing with replies “I will pray for you.” Or an individual in need will tell their friends “I have a prayer request” and will then reveal whatever is causing their need. In both cases, one person often assents to pray for another and yet that agreement is only a passing commitment, as they quickly go upon their merry way and forget the promised prayer.

Recently, I’ve been convicted that sometimes we’re even more passive in our prayer lives with the people who we are closest with. Perhaps it’s because we feel that we already know what’s going on in their lives, and so we don’t bother to ask. Or perhaps it is because it makes us feel uncomfortable to ask our spouse, our sibling, our child or our best friend on a regular basis how we can be praying for them. We may offer general prayers on their behalf, but how often to we stop to discover what God is teaching them, how He is refining them and how we can be encouraging them with prayer to respond rightly to Him? How often do we know specific areas that they are struggling with and for which they desire prayerful intercession? Do we, in other words, pray for them with purpose or do we pray with passive intent?

I’m convinced that if we more regularly and intentionally lifted up those we loved to God, that God would use those purposeful prayers to accomplish much for His kingdom. And I’m convinced that our relationships would enjoy a richness that they most likely currently lack, for we would be interceding on their behalf to the Maker and their Savior. We wouldn’t be praying in general terms for God’s will for their lives (which is good), but we would be asking for His help in specific areas where they are struggling. We would be bringing them to His throne with focused intent We would be asking for Christ’s presence to be manifest in their lives, where they are in need of it most.

What could be more purposeful than that?

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