Faith Marker by Catherine Weiskopf
Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
One night, after a weekend of being sick, I lay in bed appreciating my husband. He had taken the kids to all their activities -no small task at our house—quizzed my son, Ben, for his test, and taken care of all the meals. My heart swelled with love for him as I thought of his wonderful care-taking spirit.
As I looked back over the years, I realized what an exceptional husband he had been. I remembered the three years of panic and anxiety attacks where he patiently listened to me day-after-boring-day complaining about the same heart-pounding symptoms and night-after-night he would rub my back until sleep would come. I often woke him in the middle of a good dream with neurotic sticky thoughts in my brain, and he would let me babble about it even though his alarm would go off for work at 6:00 a.m. More loving feelings followed as I appreciated him hanging in there through thick and thin.
These positive feelings for him, I have to admit, have been rare lately as his shortcomings seem to be dressed in flashing lights and get all the attention. I have chosen too often to concentrate on what he isn’t doing to help me, how he could be different, and the difficulty he brings into my life. Dwell on the good and have a heart swelling with love or focus on the shortcomings and upset, anger, impatience, and hatred that can easily set up residence in our hearts and soul.
I’ve personally had this realization multiple times previously but this was the first time I heard God’s voice asking me to take it one step further. I heard the still quiet whisper of God say, “The same is true with me.” Yes, if I remember what God has done for me, my love for Him increases and I feel more loved by Him. That is why God instructed the Israelites to remember in Joshua 4:4-8
Joshua 4: 1-3 & 6-7 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”. . .
In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
In scripture, the greats of our faith often listed what God did for them. While remembering God’s movement in their lives, their appreciation and love for God multiplied and they felt more loved by Him.
Do you take time to remember what God has done for you? Do you mark your faith moments with God? When I look back at bad decisions God brought me through, when I realize all the times he has comforted me in the middle of the night, when I repeat these moments of faith, I both love Him more and feel the strength of His loving arms around me. I also realize, I need to take time to remember, like the Israelites, how he’s brought me out of the desert and into the Promise Land.
Catherine Weiskopf is currently working on a Workshop to help with this process of marking our faith. The first lesson will be presented at the women’s retreat It’s a Jungle out There, October 18-19 at Camp Copass in Denton, TX. There are only four days left to sign up for the retreat. Just follow the link: http://itsajungleoutthere.eventbrite.com/