Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Living an authentic life calls for us to meditate on God’s faithful love and provision in our lives

Confession: I’m not naturally great at taking the time to practice gratitude journaling. I do a short journaling exercise every morning, with the intention of coming back and adding the things I’ve been thankful for that day before I go to bed—but the reality is, most nights, I head off to bed without writing down one thing.

I’m working on it, I promise! So why do I think it’s so important to meditate on God’s faithfulness? Here are a few reasons.

We need to focus on God’s faithfulness because Scripture tells us to. Throughout Scripture you’ll find instances when God’s Word invites the people to remember what God has done in the past. Through His Word, God calls the Israelites to remember his rescue from Egypt and reminds the original audience as well as contemporary readers of how he has fulfilled his promises. When we take the time to dwell on God’s faithfulness and how he has lived that out in our own lives, we are following a pattern and practice set forth in Scripture by God himself.

Focusing on God’s faithfulness reminds us about the truth of who he is.

Being able to look back at the things that have caused you to be thankful—to see where, how and when God has moved in your life—helps you to remember that everything you’ve learned about God and his character is true. I use a journaling prompt every morning that includes a daily affirmation, which I’ve chosen to fill in with something I know to be true about God—You are faithful. You are good. You provide for me. You make a way. You sing over me. You delight in me. You always take care of me. It’s so easy to lose sight of the truth in our world, so looking at the ways God has shown us he is abounding in mercy and faithful love, as the Old Testament writers put it, is a valuable tool we need when we lose sight of the truth.

Remembering what God has done reminds us that he is at work now.

In those seasons of life where everything seems hard, remembering how God has worked in the past reminds us to rest in the reality that God is at work now, even if it doesn’t feel like it. When we can recognize how he has worked in the past, we can trust that he will work in the present and the future. The end result may not be what we imagined, but the God who has promised to walk with us through the valleys and the mountaintops is faithful.

Now that you understand the importance of meditating on God’s faithfulness throughout his Word and our lives, what are some practical ways we can remember his faithfulness? Keep reading!

1. Read the Bible. Want to be reminded about God’s faithfulness? Read the story of Scripture. You’ll see his faithfulness come alive!

2. Make a List. In a season where God’s faithfulness and love seem far away? Hit pause and take a few minutes to write down ways you have seen God display his love and faithfulness in your own life. Read it often. Add to it when you see God at work. When doubt and fear come knocking, let this list serve as a reminder of who God is and what he has done.

3. Pray. Spend some time specifically thanking God for the ways you have seen him work in your life, in the lives of your family and friends, in your church and around the world. Ask him to help you through the power of the Spirit to remember the ways he has shown himself to be faithful in the past and to give you the strength to trust him in the future.

4. Get a different perspective. Hopefully you're not attempting to journey through this life without a Christ-centered community. Sometimes, we need to turn to those who know us best and ask them to remember for us. Your spouse, closest friends and godly mentors can all help remind you of God's faithfulness in your life when it feels like you cannot.

What activities or practices help you focus on God’s faithfulness? Share your tips in the comments!