Image in Time

Old photos can show us where we have been and what we have done. Photo technology has come a long way over the years. From a tripod and single exposure slides, to rolls of film, to an app on my cell phone. Ever so easy it is now to capture a photo memory. Times have changed also from pictures in a shoe box to electronic files. Needless to say, I was looking through one of those shoe box files the other day, amazed at what all I had forgotten. How ridiculous I looked in that hat. Oh my, that hairdo is outrageous. The laughter at the fashion of times, expressions, or what I looked like back then. Every photo in that box, stimulated a memory. It was entertaining how many additional memories surfaced from one photo.

God’s Photo Album

In many places throughout the scriptures, God shows us “old photos” to jog our memory to recall what He has done. There are certain things He does not want us to forget; Don’t forget you were delivered from bondage (Deuteronomy 9:7), don’t forget all of the Lords benefits (Psalm 103:2), remember the way the Lord your God has led you (Deuteronomy 8:2), remember Him in everything (1 Corinthians 11:2), remember the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 77:11), the Holy Spirit will cause you to remember all things I have spoken to you (John 14:26). Even the sacrament of Holy Communion was given by Jesus for the purpose of remembering His death (Luke 22:19). God asks us to recollect who He is; to intentionally preserve the memory of what He has done for us and the words He has spoken to us. Remembering His faithfulness in the past strengthens us and encourages us in the present and gives us hope for the future. However, we tend to forget to remember. We get caught up in our day-to-day activities and forget to remember what God has done or is doing in our lives.

Looking at Our Past to Shape Our Future

Just like pictures placed in a shoe box and put on a shelf. Worldly things can so easily consume our time and capture our attention until our devotion, thanksgiving and dependence on God are all but a passing thought. If I were to ask you how much time you spend with God and your answer has anything to do with a calendar, then I must ask; “How much time does God spend with You?” Every minute of every day. Our old photo album must be filled with devotion to God with our thoughts, words, and deeds. Through remembering God’s works in scripture and in our life will only strengthen our faith. A strengthened faith thus results in praise that comes more easily and prayers that flow more readily. When our “photo memories” are recorded, it will bring our thoughts to God. Psalm 16:8 says, “I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Dear Lord, thank you for always being there for me. Help me to reflect your Grace in everything I say and do. For these blessings I will be eternally thankful. Amen.