Remember!

‘It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off’. (Hebrews 2:1 MSG)

Human memory is very short. I learnt this from my mother, who always used to say this to me when I was growing up. Human beings have a tendency for selective memory. We remember only the things we want to remember, only the things we prefer to remember. And we selectively forget the things we want to forget.

The verse quoted above says we should keep a firm grip on what we have heard, so that we don’t drift off. It is crucial. When we don’t pay attention to important things, unimportant things occupy our minds. It is in the nature of human beings to be easily distracted. But we must deliberately exercise ourselves to pay attention to the important things of the Word, which will help guide our day to day behavior and interactions and enable us put into practice and imbibe the principles and teachings that lead to everlasting life in Christ Jesus.

When we let go of our memory of the word, when we engage in other things that divert our attention from the word, when we do this consistently for a while, we tend to drift away from the truths that we knew or used to know and find ourselves forgetting, neglecting and turning away from the things that made us.

We Yorubas have a saying, ‘Remember whose child you are’. Now, why would anyone forget whose child they are? Is that even possible? What we find is that when you are surrounded by children of another father, doing things that their father has taught them, which is quite contrary to what your own father teaches, there is high possibility of forgetting whose child you are. You are outnumbered and outwitted, and if not careful, your desire will be to fit in and not ruffle any feathers. But, the Bible says, evil company corrupts good manners. While you may think you can handle it, and they won’t get the better of you, you will be surprised that gradually, you are conforming to their ways, in little and inconsequential ways to begin with, but gradually, you can get carried away, such that you forget whose child you are, and you’re now behaving like the children of another father!

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”(1 Cor. 15:33).

Remember Lot, in his sojourning with the people of Sodom. In parting ways with Abraham, his uncle, Lot had chosen the portion of land that looked well-watered and green, like the garden of the Lord (Eden). This land was in Sodom, where the Bible describes the men as being exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. The Bible says that Lot was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked in the city (2 Pet. 2:7), but he never left there, until the angels of the Lord had to come evacuate him at the very last minute. His family had been influenced by their environment. His wife looked back, longing for the city and was turned to a pillar of salt. His daughters misbehaved and had incestuous relationships with their father afterwards. They must have learnt such from the city they grew up in. Even Lot was given to wine and his daughters were able to take advantage of his weakness. How would his lot have been different, if he had stayed with Abraham?

What am I saying today? We need to hold fast to the things we heard so that we don’t stray away from them. We need to surround ourselves with the word. To guard our hearts with all diligence, as the Bible says (Proverbs 4:23). If we don’t, we will lose track of what is important. We will lose our way and start living like the children of another father. God is our Father. What word of prophecy do you have from God for this year? What promises did you welcome the year with? Do you still remember them? Are events around you stifling the word or contradicting the word? Are you paying more attention to the happenings around you instead of holding on to the initial promise you had?

Wake up! It’s not too late to rejuvenate yourself with the promises of God and reset yourself for great exploits this year! Have you forgotten already? January is just about rounding up. There is yet more territory to take, more land to conquer. Lift up your head, raise the weak knees, set your eyes on God and run this 2019 race that has been set before you. Don’t be distracted, don’t give up. Take up strength, quit ye like men!

This year, we take courage. We mount up with wings as eagles. We dare to do the things that God wants us to do. We take opportunities as they come our way. We enter into the open doors of progress, advancement, wealth, spiritual growth, health, foresightedness, vision, purpose, and destiny! We are not timid. We do not hold back for fear. We venture in faith, believing that the gates of the city are opened to us. We run through troops, we leap over walls. Not by power, nor by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord! (Zech. 4:8)

2019, here we come!!!

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