I have been walking with the Lord since 2003. When I look back over these years, I can honestly say that the Lord has been good to me in ways that are hard to put into words.
But 23 years is a long time. And if we are not careful, even while serving God, loving our families, working, ministering, and moving through the responsibilities of life, it can become easy to forget what Jesus has truly saved us from.
Asaph the Levite wrote in Psalm 77:11, “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; I will certainly remember Your wonders of old.”
A few nights ago, I believe the Lord gave me one of those holy reminders.
I walked into my son’s room to pray with him and tuck him into bed, as I usually do. But that night, he said something I was not prepared for. He said, “Mommy said you were an angry man before you came to Jesus. It’s hard for me to see that.”
For a moment, I just paused. I was not sure how to respond.
Then I began to tell him the truth.
I told him about the anger that once festered in my heart. I was angry about how I grew up. Angry with family members. Angry about my living situation. Angry at life. I carried hatred in my heart, and that hatred made me willing to hurt people who had done nothing to me.
But as I spoke with my son, I also began to remember moments when God was protecting me, even before I fully understood it was Him. There was a time when I wanted to cause harm to someone, but by the mercy of God, He intervened.
As I shared this, the goodness of God overwhelmed me. I began to cry in front of my son.
In that moment, the revelation of His salvation hit me. If God had not saved me, I would not have been sitting the bed talking to my son. I would not have the family He has blessed me with. I would not be the man I am today. I found myself thanking God and praising Him right there in front of my child.
After walking with the Lord for so many years, I had almost forgotten how much anger once festered in my heart. That conversation reminded me of what the Lord saved me from. He kept me when I was filled with hatred. He restrained me when I had destructive intentions. He had mercy on me when I did not even know how much mercy I needed.
I thank Jesus that He took away the anger. I thank Him that He removed the hatred. I thank Him that He changed my heart.
And maybe you need that reminder too.
Maybe you are walking with the Lord, but you have forgotten the condition He found you in. Maybe you have forgotten the pit He pulled you out of, the chains He broke, the mind He renewed, the heart He healed, and the life He transformed.
We do not remember the old person so we can glory in who we used to be. We remember so we can give glory to the God who changed us.
Sometimes we need to look back, not to return, but to remember. To remember His mercy. To remember His patience. To remember His power. To remember that Jesus did not just improve us. He saved us!
And if He saved us then, He is still worthy of our praise now!
May you always remember the saving power of Jesus in your life,
Pastor Lu