How can recalling God's deeds strengthen our faith during difficult times? Setting the Scene in Judges 5 • Judges 5 records Deborah and Barak’s victory song after God delivered Israel from Sisera. • Verse 11 paints an everyday picture—people gathering at watering places, chatting, singing, and “recount[ing] the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.” (Judges 5:11) • Their national deliverance was fresh, so they talked about it openly. Remembered victories became fuel for ongoing courage. What Recalling God’s Deeds Looks Like • Talking about what He has done—verbally celebrating milestones of His faithfulness. • Singing truthful songs that cement those deeds in our memory. • Retelling past rescues to the next generation, keeping His reputation alive. • Letting yesterday’s answers shape today’s expectations. Why Remembrance Fuels Faith in Hard Times • Recollection anchors us to unchanging reality: God acted before, He has not changed (Malachi 3:6). • Past victories expose the lie that present trouble is final (Psalm 77:11–14). • Memory shifts focus from “my weakness” to “His strength” (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Gratitude crowds out anxiety; we can’t rehearse praise and panic simultaneously (Philippians 4:6–7). Other Scriptures That Reinforce This Truth • Exodus 14:13–14—Israel stood at the Red Sea, Moses reminded them how God fights. • 1 Samuel 17:37—David cited God’s previous deliverances from lion and bear before facing Goliath. • Psalm 103:2—“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” • Lamentations 3:21–23—Jeremiah’s hope ignites when he calls God’s loyal love to mind. • Revelation 12:11—Believers overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Testimony = remembered deeds. Practical Ways to Remember His Works • Keep a written record: journal, note app, or dated Bible margins of answered prayers. • Build “mini memorials”: a photo, stone, or object that sparks conversation about God’s intervention (Joshua 4:6–7). • Share weekly testimonies in family or small-group settings. • Sing Scripture-saturated worship; melody helps doctrine stick. • Reflect regularly—pause every evening to list three ways He showed up that day. Closing Encouragement When adversity closes in, reach for the catalogue of God’s deeds. Speak them, sing them, write them, and watch faith rise. The God who delivered at the watering places of ancient Israel is still writing victories for His people today. |
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