Remember and Forget

Some things are SO important we are told to “Remember!”  Some things we are to forget. 

Here is a list of some of the important points. There are many other Scriptures on this subject. Look up additional verses under these key words, remember and forget.  

1. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”   Exodus 20:8 NKJV
2. “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask your father…” Deuteronomy 32:7 NKJV
3. “But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”  Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT
4. “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders and the judgments of His mouth.”  1 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV
5. “I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16 NKJV
6. “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth.”  Ecclesiastes 12:1 NKJV
7. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:” Psalm 103:2 NKJV 
8. “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.” Lamentations 3:21-23 NLT
9. “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”  1Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV
10. “Take a firm stand against him (the Devil), and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”   1 Peter 5:9 NLT
11. “Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”  1 Peter 3:17 NLT
12. “Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19 NLT
13. “In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25 NLT 
14. “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 NLT
15.  “. . . remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35. KJV

What does God remember?  What does He promise to forget?  

We do not have to wonder what the answers are.  

God knows us, knows our deeds.  He has not forgotten us.

        But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.”

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” Isaiah 49:14-16 NKJV

        In God’s words of warnings and blessings to each church in Revelation 2 and 3 He says, “I know your deeds.” And He repeats, “Remember!” “Repent!” “Hold fast!”

God has made a way for us to be forgiven.

“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”  Romans 3:22-23 NLT 

God will not remember our sins 
when we have confessed them to Him.

1. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 NKJV 
2. “’This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.’ Then he adds, ‘I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’” Hebrews 10:16-17 NLT

We are exhorted to forget!

When we’ve received Jesus as our Savior and Lord then we are to forget grudges, fears, troubles and look to Him for a new life of faith and obedience. “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

God enables us to do what He tells us to do.

God promises to help us remember . . . and to forget. Jesus speaking to the disciples told them, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  John 14:26 KJV

“With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:14 NLT

“. . . May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT 

Remember….and forget.  

Let us make these simple words part of our new vocabulary of faith. Bow your heart right now and talk to God about this truth. What do YOU need to remember? What does He tell you to forget? 

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by Elaine Hardt © 2007