I love looking back through old photos. There’s something romantic and nostalgic that awakens my heart to the things that had once happened. Mostly photos capture the beauty of the moment or the details that fade with time. They’re framed and adorn our walls creating anchor points within our family story. I also really like looking back on my journals and seeing the journey, reintroducing the details that have morphed, the words seemingly so profound in the moment and lost in the busy. There’s something special about walking a path with a new perspective – this is what He is teaching me in the whisper, “Recall, sweet one, remember; what I’ve done reveals my heart toward you and the promises Heaven holds”.
Joshua provides a beautiful example of building a marker to go back and remember, He makes a monument in the moment. That amazing juncture where the Jordan is opened up for safe passage to take further steps towards their promised land. Joshua sees this as nothing short of miraculous, so he sets it up so God gets the glory, serving as a sign not only for God’s chosen people, but for future generations. The purpose wrapped beautifully in the whispers lingering… “They’ll ask you, you know, and you will tell them. Tell them, there is a God who loves them fiercely, One who will go to great depths to demonstrate this love. Tell them, there is a God who sets them free; tell them, there is a God who cares about the details of their day to day; tell them, there is a God who can fight the biggest giants in their path… tell them they are called to a purpose for which they were created. Tell them, tell them, tell them. Recall. Remember. Go back to this moment. Do not forget.”
This going back, it resets our perspective. When we sit in a place of grumbling as we strive through life, it’s easy to see what is in front of us or what we are surrounded by and totally miss it. Miss the promise. Miss the call. Miss the provision. Miss the opportunity. Miss the moment. Miss His heart.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites practiced going back and recalling; this was their basis for praise. Not so they could go stay in the past, longing for the familiar or the glory days. No, they built anchor points into their story with the intention to share and draw others into His presence, into His faithfulness, into His love. They hold dear the boulders from the depths of the Jordan as they are a continued tangible reminder and expression of His provision to make a way forward, forever.
Memorials are there to bring us into a state of remembrance. When we recall what He has done, it shifts our sight to the unseen, and in turn that shifts our perspective off of our circumstance into His happenstance. When the Israelites gathered they began marching through the gates with thanksgiving, they settled into a rhythm of active recollection for the things He had done in their past and set up an anticipation of what He would continue to do. In their praise, the Israelites declared God’s ability, outside their own: past, present, future. It’s only in God they are able to move into their destiny, and into their promised land. It’s only as they shifted their eyes upward and outward they could move actively into their calling. In their praise they ushered in not what happened, but who happened. Live long enough, you see history repeats itself right? Wrong, God is forever doing a new thing. He beckons us to bring back into mind who He is, not necessarily what He has done. And it will never be the same. Because He is always moving forward to bring His Bride to Himself. I believe He is moving in an unprecedented way in these days. I see a new voice, a new resolve arising across His Bride. But its one that will only resound when She see’s who He is through what He has done. In this anamnesis we can eagerly approach the Throne and know He will do it again. But it will look different. His faithfulness, it will stay the same. His heart for you, unmoveable.
Recalling and remembering are not destinations for dwelling, they are purposed for praise. To set us up, so that in the seasons where it seems hopeless, uncertain, dry, unsteady we can go back to who He is and know He is faithful, unchanging and will indeed continue to show us the way towards Heaven’s promises as we co-labour with Him. He has got this. We can reminisce, resting in His greatness and grace alone.
So, sweet one what is God doing in your life at the moment? How did He show up when you didn’t think He was? What are the memorials you build into your faith memory to bring you back to who God is? Write out, create, build your monuments so you can remember, so you won’t forget.
until next time… xox