In Psalm 77, Asaph survives his anguish with...
"But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High" I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old, I will also meditate on all Your work; and talk of Your deeds. (vs. 10-12)
I also want to remember, perhaps even make some sort of memorial, so I won't forget... past victories, and blessings, and prayers answered. The Israelites were always setting up memorial stones, as in Joshua 4
"...Each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of tribes of the children of Israel, That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them..."
I have seen such evidence of His leading, provision, love and faithfulness, that my faith is edging toward the place where I can feel safe in surrender, more and more. I have been entertaining ways of making memorials of these as Beth Moore calls..."God Stops", when God does something that breaks into our life, and changes things. I have written songs about trials, purpose, and yielding. I have painted illustrations of life lessons. Now, I am thinking of doing something that is mainly between the Lord and I, but will give me a record of what has transpired between us. I have always written my prayers, to help with focus, and also to thwart the enemy or my own "you are such a failure" thinking. I have proof, that "AHA! I did pray!" (Which was so amazing when we got our belongings out of storage after the homeless months, and I looked to see...Was I right with God when everything went crazy back there in the spring of 2007? Yes, I had that prayer journal to review and confirm that I was praying, and was passionately seeking the Lord.) Also, the Prayer Journal gives me the means to write in the dates of the answers to prayer, and that is what I want to improve on. So... My New Years Resolution, is to...
SCRAPBOOK MY PRAYERS!
Yes, infact I actually had a dream about this. My plan is to take the concern of my heart, and put it as a prayer in the middle of the page, and daily surround it with the promise verses I am praying, and then chart the evidences of the hand of the LORD, as He answers. (Because He always does!) I read recently in a prayer book of Oswald Chambers, that we should do more than present our prayers for help like a child handing over a broken toy to our father. But, we should also present ourselves, to wait and enjoy the thrill of watching our Father work. This is a beautiful picture to me, and I believe if I do the work of prayer, and actively await His answer, I will have a Scrapbook page Memorial, of what God has done in my life!
So this is my focus this fine New Years Day, to make 2009 a year of praying and to "meditate on all Your works, and talk of Your deeds."
Kimberly
