Why are we so Forgetful?

When I ask this question, I think of my own personal experience.  How many times has God delivered me up out of horrid personal circumstances, for me to only turn my back on Him?  Yet, this is the story of mankind, isn't it?  We need only hearken back to those oft forgetful Israelites in the desert. The following is from Psalm 106: 12-15."

"Then they believed in his promises and sang his praise.  But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.  In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So, he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them."

God gives us free reign to choose Him or everything else our natural hearts desire.  We are even told that God will not force or fight with us over our allegiance.  'he gave them what they asked for.' Disobedience and turning away from God is the struggle we all face.  The 'things of this world' with all of their glimmer and attractiveness pull us away from God.  Yet, time and again these things that seem so beautiful, that seem so attractive, and that seem so filling, turn out to be ugly, unattractive, and completely void of any substance and leave us completely empty inside.  They cannot nor will they ever, completely fill that void, that "God sized"  void that from its name implies that only God can fill!  Disobedience leads to guilt, shame, and remorse.  Those three are a yoke too heavy and burdensome to carry around with us each and every day.  So, let us as take the yoke that Jesus offers us.  His burden is light.  It is a burden that comes from obedience to Him, but it pales in comparison to the "hell on earth" existence if we continue living a life enslaved to sin.  

And God will love and return His favor to you.  The following Psalm has become one of my favorites, Psalm 51:

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." (1-3)

 

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (10-12)

 

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (17)

God does not delight in sacrifice (as it is mentioned in the Old Testament) or take pleasure in burnt offerings.  When we come to know God intimately, our hearts and spirits are broken more severely when we disobey.  Yet, it is this disappointment in ourselves that we have failed 'Our Father' that pleases Him.  We will continue to fail in this life, we will never be completely be free from sin, but we will always be welcomed back with loving arms by our Father when he sees our broken spirit.  Therefore, never give up the fight!  We should expect sin to slither its way into our lives (for we all fall short of His glory), but we must never accept it in our hearts and become enslaved to it.  

Perseverance versus Endurance

There is a difference.  Endurance implies the ability to "hold on" to the end or completion.  Yet, perseverance implies the ability to "hold on" and succeed in the mission all at the same time. For example, I ran a marathon once and I endured the grueling 26.2 miles.  However, I finished in over 4 hours.  Others who had finished prior to me were probably already at home, showered, and relaxing reading a book.  Perseverance is defined by what we predetermine to be a success.  As my 1st marathon, I just wanted to finish the race.  Therefore, I both endured and persevered.  However, if I had wanted to finish in under 3 hours or come in 3rd place, I would have endured but not persevered.  Okay, enough of the confusing talk.  

My wife and I named our daughter Hannah.  We did so because like the Hannah in the Bible, we want her to be a "worshiper of God."  It means this because the biblical Hannah was barren (sound familiar) and could not have children.  Her husband had another wife and the other wife teased Hannah for her inability to bear children.  It says in 1 Samuel 1:10, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord."  Hannah was bitter, but not at God.  That, I believe, is the difference between Hannah and most of the people living today.  I know from my own experience that years before something "snapped", I would blame God when things were not going my way or when I found myself in an unfavorable or painful position.  Yet, we see here that Hannah prayed to God in the midst of her bitterness.  "As she kept on praying to the Lord........"[1 Sam 1:12]  Therefore, I know today that it is okay for me to be bitter or sad.  God does not require us to be any certain way emotionally.  Emotions are emotions, its the thoughts and actions behind those emotions that are of concern to God.   It is okay to be bitter or sad about our circumstances because we live in a fallen world.  Yet, it is this bitterness, loneliness, and sadness that should serve as a catalyst to turn toward God (in thought and action), not away from Him.  

Hannah "prayed without ceasing" [1 Thessa 5:17] and it was credited to her as righteousness.  Now that is what is stated in the Bible about Abraham, but I interpret the birth of Samuel as God crediting her with righteousness. Hannah had promised to give her child to God if God looked upon her with favor, and she did.  After she submitted Samuel to Eli to be a "child of God", God blessed her with 5 more children. [1 Sam 2:21]

So, Hannah persevered!  She knew what she wanted and she received it in God's time, not hers. She received because she asked God, seeked God, and knocked upon His holy door!  That is the key because when things do not happen in my time, I tend to give up and stop praying.  This is a great reminder to keep praying and you will be a winner in all things.  Your faithfulness will be credited to you as righteousness and you will receive blessings far beyond what your finite mind can even comprehend.