Remember – have in or be able to bring to one’s mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past).
What is more important is how the original Hebrew defines the term. The word Zakar, means to Remember, not just in your head, but to remember with action. We see this time and time again throughout scripture as God moving on behalf of his people.
Genesis 8:1 says,
“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.”
Genesis 30:22 says,
“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.”
Exodus 6:5-6 says,
“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. ‘Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.’”
In scripture, whenever we see God remembering someone, we then see Him doing something on their behalf. We know that God doesn’t actually forget us, so what is most important is that His remembrance means that He does something on their behalf. God remembers, and then God acts.
Likewise, God expects us to remember and place our action with it.
Numbers 15:38-40 says,
“‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”
God wanted the children of Israel to add tassels to their clothes to remind them of what he had done for them. This was meant to cause them to live consecrated and obedient before Him by their rememberance. They would remember, and they would act.
Deuteronomy 8:11 says,
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.”
In other words, remember the Lord and observe His commandments. If you forget Him, you won’t remember to do any of the things He requires of you. He wanted them to remember, so they would act.
When thinking over the goodness of God in your life, the favor or the faithfulness of God on your behalf, don’t just run the blessings over in your mind, act! Act on your faith, act on your memory. In other words, increase your faith, be more obedient, be more disciplined, share what God did for you with someone. Remember God’s goodness towards you and let that remembrance cause you to do something that honors God.
I took a moment to remember God’s goodness in my life and it caused me to right this post for Ready Faith’ Hall of Faith, hopefully to boost your faith, be encouraged! [Read: Why I Believe Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 By Pastor Shari Stephens in The Hall of Faith tab on ReadyFaith.Com]