You might scratch a note, set an alarm, or solicit another to help you remember. And if you want someone else to remember, you likely remind them—gently, firmly, or repeatedly—as often as necessary!
God’s people are no strangers to reminders either. The Bible is full of them, from God to His people and from the people of God back to Him.
God doesn’t need reminding. He knows everything and never needs a refresher. Human beings, on the other hand, tend to be forgetful and require frequent prompting. God reminds us, and then we are reminded again when we ask Him to remember.
I didn’t realize there were so many prayers of remembrance throughout the Bible.
“Remember me, O my God, for good.” – Nehemiah 13:31
“Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” – Isaiah 38:3
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” – Luke 23:42
Faithful saints ask God to remember their condition, their enemies, and their relationship with Him.
“Remember me, O Lord, when You show favor to Your people; help me when You save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance.” – Psalm 106:4-5
“Remember how short my time is! For what vanity You have created all the children of man! … Remember, O Lord, how Your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, with which Your enemies mock, O Lord, with which they mock the footsteps of Your anointed.” – Psalm 89:47, 50-51
“Do not spurn us, for Your name’s sake; do not dishonor Your glorious throne; remember and do not break Your covenant with us.” – Jeremiah 14:21
Penitent sinners ask God to wipe away all memory of their sin, stain of their iniquity, and reproach of their transgression before Him.
“Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!” – Psalm 25:7
“Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let Your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.” – Psalm 79:8
“Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people.” – Isaiah 64:9
With humble faith and confident assurance, God’s children come to Him for every need.
“Remember Your mercy, O Lord” (Psalm 25:6)
“Remember Your Word” (Psalm 119:49)
“Remember Your congregation” (Psalm 74:2)
“Remember our disgrace!” (Lamentations 5:1)
“Remember Your cause” (Psalm 74:22)
And with no reservation, He does.
Abby
