In what ways can we remember God's kindness to prevent spiritual complacency? Ezekiel’s Wake-Up Call “Because you did not remember the days of your youth but enraged Me with all these things, I will also bring your conduct down upon your own head,” declares the Lord GOD. “Have you not added lewdness to all your other abominations?” (Ezekiel 16:43) Why Forgetfulness Breeds Complacency • Forgetting past grace erases gratitude and invites entitlement. • When God’s kindness fades in our memory, sin regains its allure. • Neglecting remembrance severs the link between yesterday’s deliverance and today’s obedience. Remembering God’s Kindness: Practical Habits • Keep a “stones of remembrance” journal—record answered prayers, provisions, conversions, healings. • Build verbal memorials—tell your testimony often to family, friends, small groups. • Schedule gratitude—begin and end each day naming three fresh mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Anchor in Scripture—read narratives of deliverance (Exodus 14; Joshua 4) and psalms of remembrance (Psalm 103:2) aloud. • Celebrate the Lord’s Table regularly—“Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). • Sing truth-rich hymns and worship songs that rehearse God’s works. • Practice generous giving—each act echoes His generosity (2 Corinthians 9:15). • Serve in the place you were once served—return to the mission field, shelter, or class where God met you. • Mark anniversaries of salvation, baptism, deliverance; treat them like spiritual birthdays. Scripture Snapshots to Fuel Our Memory • Deuteronomy 4:9—“Only be on your guard… so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen…” • Deuteronomy 8:2—“Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way…” • Psalm 103:2—“Do not forget all His kind deeds.” • 2 Peter 1:12-13—reminding believers keeps them “stirred up.” • Revelation 2:4-5—remember, repent, repeat first deeds to revive first love. Living Out the Memory Today 1. Pause: intentionally recall one specific instance of God’s kindness. 2. Praise: thank Him aloud for that kindness. 3. Proceed: act on that memory—obey the next clear command in His Word. 4. Pass it on: share the story before the day ends. Continual remembrance keeps the heart warm, gratitude fresh, and obedience eager—safeguarding us from the drift of spiritual complacency. |
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