Spiritual Amnesia

This is week 5 of my Daniel Safari. This week we studied about Belshazzar and how he totally forgot what had happened to his father, Nebby, a few chapters ago. (Remember how he had to spend 7 years as an animal, eating grass and wandering around insane? "...until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will." Daniel 5:21.)
So Daniel is called in to interpret the meaning of some words that a bizarre hand-out-of-nowhere has written on the wall. Daniel confronts Bels and says, bluntly, "And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this"...and proceeds to tell Bels that he can go ahead and kiss his kingdom adios. (Which all transpires by the end of the chapter. Bels bites the dust and a new king comes in).

Though you knew all this. Gulp.

How often do I "forget" what God has done for me in the past? Time after time after time I suffer from spiritual amnesia just.like.Bels. (Double gulp).

Just like the Israelites, just like Belshazzar....I forget what God has delivered me from. What He has given me. How He has rescued me. Saved me. Loved me. And I am humbled, once again, to confess my unbelief and my fear and promise (again) to leave it at His feet. But then I pick it up again. It's a vicious cycle. I'm slowly learning. (I'm a very slow learner. Verrrry slllllow). It's one of those things that I wish I could take a magic pill for. Take one pill in the a.m. and by the next morning, you will recall all that God has done for you and rejoice!! Live in faith!! Know that He will take care of you!! Know that He will equip you for what He has called you to!!

In my Bible there are dates in the margins everywhere. I jot down the date that I read a verse and it means something special to me. Or a promise that I have seen fulfilled. I also keep a prayer journal. I have entry after entry of God's faithful provision for my family. Documentation of a God that is totally present in my family's life. With all these "Ebenezer stones", one would wonder why I have such a stinkin' hard time remembering?

I think it is because Satan knows my weak areas, and plants those pesky seeds of doubt in my little human brain. It's funny (or not) that one passage I come to every time I open my Bible is Ephesians 6:11-18. Yep, the whole "armor of God" passage.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

So here I sit, armed with my Sword, holding my Shield high, and praying, praying, praying that I will remember. The enemy hates that. Hates it. Which is why I struggle so. There is a battle going on that we cannot see, but we are such a part of I think it would stun us if we knew...but that is a post for another day.

For today, I am taking my Rx for my amnesia. I am prayerfully remembering where God has brought me from -- and resting in the knowledge that He is taking me to the place that He has determined for me.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!