Recall And Report

Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.

Psalm 107:43

In Psalm 107, the psalmist gives a rundown of God’s dealings with his people. The psalm opens with exhilarated praise: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out!” (Psalm 107:1-2).

Then he goes through a list of the ways that God has made his presence known to his people. We see in this litany two things about God’s dealings. He brings and allows difficulties meant to correct and redirect. But he is always there. When his people call out to him, he snatches them to safety. Over and over his faithfulness is evident in their lives. The psalmist is calling the people to review and remember and celebrate.

The Lord calls us to remember and to report. Remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives builds our faith. It gives birth to praise and celebration. When I am struggling with present circumstances, I get out old prayer journals and review the many times God has proven true to his promises. It brings faith back to life. When I talk to a prayer partner about it and report God’s past faithfulness, I find my faith growing bolder. Something about sharing God’s faithfulness with another solidifies my faith further.

The history the psalmist recounted in Psalm 107 includes what happened when the people were not faithful. It incorporates the times when God proved himself true because what he had said would happen if the people rebelled did indeed happen. Going their own way took them off course every time. But merciful, gracious God was always there, ready to rescue.

God promises that he will be faithful to us, and that his Word is true. When we recall his work, that promise takes firm hold in our hearts. Respond to him in the present in light of all he has proved in the past.

Lord, I recall all the ways that you have been faithful and gracious to me. Remind me when I forget. Call your work to my attention, and then anchor it in my memory. I will recall and report.

Religion . . . is in essence the response of the created personalities to the Creating Personality, God.

A. W. Tozer(1897–1963), American preacher and author