Question 1

What can I do about bad memories?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 41:51Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”Isaiah 54:4“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.”Philippians 3:13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.God, who forgives, can also help us forget bad memories. We should talk with him about those events of the past and ask him to help us focus on his forgiveness, love, and plans for our future.

Question 2

What place does God desire to have in my memory?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 31:13“Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.’”Deuteronomy 4:9“Watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”Psalm 111:4He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!Psalm 103:2Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.Psalm 119:16, 93I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. . . . I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.1 Corinthians 11:23-26I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.2 Timothy 2:8Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.Hebrews 10:32Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.God wants us to always remember him and all he has done for us.

Question 3

How can I leave a good memory in my relationships?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 10:7We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.Psalm 112:6, 9Those who are righteous will be long remembered. . . . They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.Matthew 26:13“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”Godliness, love, and good deeds will always be remembered well.

Question 4

What are the dangers of forgetting God?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 12:9The people soon forgot about the Lord their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor’s army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.Job 8:13-14“The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate. Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web.”Jeremiah 3:21Voices are heard high on the windswept mountains, the weeping and pleading of Israel’s people. For they have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten the Lord their God.Ezekiel 23:35“And because you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences of all your lewdness and prostitution.”When we forget God, we have nothing left but sin and self, and what can those do to secure our eternal future? Forgetting God leaves us to the consequences of sin without the benefits of God’s gracious mercy.

Question 5

In what ways are memories important to a leader’s effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Joshua 4:4-7So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”Joel 1:2-3Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen, all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before? Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.One of the leader’s most significant roles is keeping “the story” alive. Leaders tell the stories of a family’s history, of the founding of a community, a business, or a congregation. They tell the stories of the great times and the hard times, so that those they lead have a sense of history and an appreciation of all that has come before. These memories remind people of the essential purpose and values that energize and guide the group. Even as Israel kept memorial stones to remind them of God’s faithfulness, so leaders can watch for tangible ways to keep memories alive.

Memories