Meditation 1: The God from whom we can request gracious memory
Good morning Lord, Thank You for being here with me this morning. Thank you for this time apart from people when I can focus on You alone. No other people are in the room with me right now, but I am not left alone. I am never left alone. I couldn’t have more company than I have right now, except by having a greater fellowship with You and a more profound experience of Your presence. For that I do ask, Lord. Come and be with me today – especially now. Show me Your glory and help me understand Your gracious remembering.
Psalm 25:6-7 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.
What is wonderful about this attribute:
What does it mean for an omniscient being to remember something? God is always aware of everything, but He wants us to think of His acting on the basis of certain factors rather than another factors. So if He is remembering His love that means He is acting toward you mainly on the basis of His kindness rather than His anger. But if He is remembering you according to your sin that means He is acting toward you mainly on the basis of His anger rather than His kindness.
God would not be wrong to remember us according to our sin, nor is it wrong for Him to remember us according to His kindness. Sometimes He does one and other times He does the other, which is why the psalmists request that God remember Him according to His love and not the other way. It is the great privilege of the child of God to be able to make such a request!
So Lord, I ask again today, please act toward me on the basis of Your favor, not on the basis of my sin.
I can ask this, because You are good and because the Lord Jesus purchased this great privilege for me. I praise You this day, dear Lord, for Your wonderful goodness.
What effect would it have on your heart if you were to consciously experience God’s gracious memory today?
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Experiencing this attribute:
One way to experience and enjoy the attribute of God’s gracious memory is to be the tool through which it is expressed to others.
Lord, let me learn how to reflect and exemplify this attribute in my life. Let me be a man (woman) of gracious memory. When I remember those who have hurt me let the first thoughts into my mind be gracious, favorable ones that honestly and genuinely and joyfully and gladly (not grudgingly out of mere duty, but eagerly out of desire) remember them favorably.
Let me automatically focus on their good points by default, and only be dragged kicking and screaming to think about their sins when it is absolutely necessary.
Lord, bring many people to my mind today and remind me of this each time, that I might practice and not forget this. I know it is more than just a discipline that comes through resolve alone. It will take a change in my heart. I will need greater love than I have now, and greater humility and selflessness and grace. Those are expensive, unattainable commodities, Lord, that only the Rich King possesses. I can only beg You for them as an unworthy subject. But also as a child who is in Your worthy Son. Please, for Christ’s sake, give Your servant greater humility and love and grace. And let it be profound enough that it comes through in my speech – especially when others are going the opposite way. Give me the strength to contradict them and speak graciously.
Make me a man of gracious words that come from deep within me; from a soft, kind heart that really does love and favor all those I remember. Let me be like You, dear Lord.
Think: Is there a person in your life who does not benefit from this attribute expressed to them from God through you? That is, is there anyone you tend to remember mainly according to their sin rather than according to God’s love?
Promise to trust today:
1John 2:1,12 If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake
Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Write your own prayer:
