Remember

What a grand privilege is ours, all who are reading this offering at this time, to be alive and in our right minds. Today, the first Sunday in the penultimate month of a 2026, we are alive and are given grace to be at the feet of Jesus. Indeed, on this first Lord’s Day Sunday, we are compelled to give praise and thanks, to our Father in heaven, for granting us this honour and privilege. 

Through the Comfort, Help, Care and Nourishment of the Holy Spirit, we have known nothing but Truth. We have faced many a storm, some so greatly threatening, we felt as though it was the end of our spiritual and physical lives with our Lord. On the other hand, there were times of pure solitude, calm and bliss, where we basked in the sunshine of our Father’s warm, comforting arms. Indeed, when we all look back on the past ten months, we cannot but give all praise and thanks to God for His unflinching, unwavering and unmovable faithfulness to us miserable offenders.

Our Father in heaven has been nothing but kind and gracious to you and to me, even when we were ungrateful, doubting, complaining and murmuring about our lives in Him and with Him. Even today, in this moment, with lots of cares, fears, doubts and uncertainties circling overhead, buzzing loudly in the mind and pressing hard against the heart, let us remember who our God is.

Remember! You are breathing in this moment, because of the same Present Father who had you breathing ten months ago. You are the living testimony of God’s Power. Give all thanks to God!

Remember! You are able to think back on past months, however rough or smooth the paths were, and know that you were brought through by your heavenly Father. You are the living witness of God’s Authority. Give all praise to God!

Remember! You are alive today, not by chance, or any interventions of your doing. God, and God alone, in His grace and mercy, according to His purpose, has kept you and brought you to this moment. You are the living example of God’s Sovereign Grace. Give all honour to God! 

Wherever you are in this moment of time, whether under very thick, dark clouds or under bright, sunshiny light clouds, remember this. God made clouds and He is their Controller. And if you are in the arms of sickness, discouragement and confinement, or in the arms of good health, encouragement and enjoyment, also remember this. God determines our times and He is the Great Healer and Helper. 

Like David the psalmist, I encourage us all, in whatsoever state we are, to humble ourselves before the Throne of Grace.  In deep sincerity, honesty and poverty of soul and mind, let us bare our longing hearts to our loving Father in heaven. By faith and in faith, we believe and know that He is hearing us and has never stopped working for us.

After David’s words to his ever present God, as found in Psalm 143: 5 - 6, we too pray.

Our Father in heaven, I remember the days of old, all my past days which You have given to me. I meditate daily on all Your works, all that You have done for me and for all humankind. I marvel, joy and muse on the works of Your hands, for they are beyond explanation and far beyond compare. Father, Holy, Sovereign, Lord God, I spread my arms wide out to You, in deep longing. My soul longs for You like a thirsty land, Father. Holy Spirit, thank You for bringing me to this state of deep need for my God and Father. It is in this need, You have shown and confirmed that I am still with my God and He is still with me. Thank You, O Holy Helper, for bringing the deep blessing of need to me. Spirit of Truth, You have brought back and continue to bring back to remembrance all that I have in Jesus, my Redeemer, Saviour, Master and Lord. My sinful life was Yours Father, is still Yours, and will always be Yours. Praise and thanks to You, my Father. Amen!

In this week, we shall be taught lessons through two named people. One name is well-known and the other is not so well-known.