Just about everyone has a favorite childhood memory. And while everyone’s childhood varies there’s usually at least one place you can remember that you would love to return to. But what do we do with great memories that we can't recall? In biblical times, children were given a staff and on it would be inscriptions of God’s faithfulness towards them. In this way the staff represented so much more than what shepard’s used to guide their flock, it was their walking memory stick. As Jacob in his old age leaned on his staff to bless his grandsons, we can only imagine what he was thinking as he looked back on God's faithfulness towards him and his family. Memories are powerful and we have the power to create and keep them by staying in the presence of God. Taking time to be with him brings peace and joy and goes beyond a momentary happiness. Knowing God breathes an everlasting confidence to push past disappointments and into his promises within us, as he reminds us of what he’s done and that he has the power to do it and will do it again.

You have to create a memory that will strengthen you to stand, when you are about to fall.

1. Each day, a gift

We tend to give up on whatever we feel we won’t succeed in. And unfortunately, that attitude bleeds into our prayer lives. When we ought to dwell in the secret place of prayer with God, we lose focus because we don’t hear what we want back from him. But God is looking for a people who will wait on him and remember his faithfulness. His presence is a gift we can receive every day.

2. His presence, your progress

There is no point to making progress in this life, without remembering the purpose of life itself. When we remember that our purpose is to glorify God for who he is, our hearts shift into a posture of humility and acceptance of his restorative and unrelenting love.

Our memories are very powerful, and they play a crucial role in the way we see the world. When there is a lack of joy, there is a lack of God’s presence. Therefore, it is essential for us to remember how faithful God is with us and to seek those memories where he has been good to us. Our memories are the only thing that Satan cannot steal from us. Even in seasons where there is a lot of chaos, we must set time aside from our day to seek God, dive into prayer and worship. The story of Jacob demonstrates to us how faithful Jacob was to God by worshipping him even in his time of death. Worship is vital because God created us to acknowledge that he is God and apart from him there is no other. God has never forgotten us, as he ultimately demonstrated by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. So let’s choose to remember and worship as Jacob did.