How can we acknowledge God's past actions in our lives like Samuel did? Setting the Scene “Then Samuel said to the people, ‘The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.’” (1 Samuel 12:6) Samuel pauses Israel’s national meeting to rehearse what the LORD had already done. He calls everyone to anchor today’s choices in yesterday’s mercies. Why Looking Back Matters • Affirms God’s unchanging faithfulness • Breeds gratitude, which crowds out grumbling • Strengthens current obedience—if He carried us then, He will carry us now • Provides a witness to the next generation Seeing the Pattern Across Scripture • Deuteronomy 8:2 — “Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way…” • Joshua 4:6-7 — stones from the Jordan “will be a sign among you… so that all the peoples of the earth may know” • Psalm 77:11-12 — “I will remember the works of the LORD… I will meditate on all Your mighty deeds.” • Lamentations 3:21-23 — “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed.” • 2 Corinthians 1:10 — “He has delivered us… He will deliver us again.” • Revelation 12:11 — “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Practical Ways to Acknowledge God’s Past Actions Today Personal Habits • Keep a “Providence Journal” listing answered prayers and unexpected provisions. • Mark dates in your Bible margin where a verse became real through a specific event. • Sing or play songs that recount biblical history and personal deliverance. Family & Community • Tell the stories at the table—regularly rehearse how God saved, healed, provided. • Create visible reminders: a framed photo, a stone on the mantle, a special date on the calendar. • Celebrate spiritual anniversaries (baptism, rescue from addiction, mission trips). Corporate Worship • In testimony time, spotlight what the LORD has done, not personal achievement. • Weave historical creeds and responsive readings that trace redemption. • Set aside services for recounting God’s works—much like Israel’s feast days. Guardrails for Honest Remembrance • Stay anchored to Scripture; measure experiences by the Word. • Give God the credit, resisting the pull to magnify human effort. • Acknowledge even the discipline of the LORD as kindness that led to repentance (Hebrews 12:10-11). • Keep the scope wide—His faithfulness spans generations, not just isolated moments. Living It Out This Week 1. Write down three moments when God clearly intervened in your life. 2. Tell one of those stories to someone who has never heard it. 3. Place a physical reminder where you will see it daily—a note on the fridge, a stone on your desk. 4. Read Psalm 103 aloud, replacing “my” with your name to personalize the remembrance. 5. Thank Him specifically for yesterday’s mercies before asking for today’s needs. The Ongoing Echo Samuel’s simple sentence in 1 Samuel 12:6 still reverberates: the LORD appointed, the LORD delivered, the LORD remains. When we echo that testimony, we join a long line of witnesses who proclaim, “Great is His faithfulness.” |
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