#368  What to Forget, What to Remember  Psalm 103:2

Some time ago, someone in Christ I barely knew passed away. I realized that even now I was defining them by a few incidents when they said some things that really hurt me.  I also observed that there are others that I remember in the same manner.  The challenge expands when I consider other people in my life that do not share our faith.  I do not want to define any person’s life by how they have hurt me or how they have hurt those I love.  I prayed about this, and the LORD answered me.

I want to see everyone according to the mind of Christ, the newness of the renewed mind.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17  “So from now on we regard no man from a worldly point of view [NIV] …therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” NASB   “…everything has become fresh and new.”  (Phillips)  For those in the faith we share the common ground of Christ our righteousness.  For others I imagine the time when they will truly experience the love of God and Christ, as alluded to in the Isaiah scriptures below.

Our Heavenly Father does not define us by the mistakes in life.  He sees us through Christ.  Romans 8:1-2  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Psalm 103-10-14

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:31-32

A most riveting verse brought me great inspiration.

In the context of the Kingdom that will soon bless Israel and all the families of the earth, (Isaiah 26:1-6, 9; see also Isaiah 14:1-2) there is a stunning statement.

“O LORD our God!  Lords other than You possessed us, but only Your name shall we utter.”  Isaiah 26:13  Tenach

“Other masters besides Thee have ruled us” NASB.  Throughout the temporary reign of sin and death there have been many ‘masters,’  i.e. governments and regimes that have brutally misused their power, persecuting and oppressing the Jewish people and others of our human family.    This verse suggests that the brutality and anguish of these misuses of power, and I think of the holocaust in this context, will pale in the presence of the love of God and Christ revealed and experienced in earthly Kingdom blessing.  “But only Your name shall we utter”  NASB   The word “utter” is Strong’s #2142: to mark, so as to be recognized, that is to remember, by implication to mention.

The holy outcome when the oppression has ceased (Isaiah 14:5-6) is described in Isaiah 14:7, “The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy.”  Every painful memory and experience will be transformed into powerful learning and blessing.  Isaiah 55:12-13

We have the privilege of experiencing this newness of experience now.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18,  Philippians 2:8-14!!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits…”  Psalm 103:1-2

The word forget is Strong’s #7911: to mislay, that is be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

[Mislay: unintentionally put an object where it cannot readily be found and so lose it]

Instead of forgetting or mislaying, let us remember all of His benefits.  This would fill our minds and hearts with overflowing joy and peace.  Psalm 103:3-5

“Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”  Psalm 103:4

He surrounds you with kindness and compassion (as if cherishing the unborn child).

We tend to mislay, to unintentionally place our focus on the negative experience, so that the gift cannot be readily found.

O LORD heal the roots of these experiences and heal the ‘story’ of what we made these experiences mean about ourselves and others.

The power of Your Spirit and Blessing is stronger than any hurtful memory or experience.