Remembering Who God Is

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.”

I find it really hard to learn scripture by heart. Shamefully there are only a few passages that I can fully recall. However, it’s during times of struggle that these passages become a real gift to me.

I work as a hospital chaplain. As I visit different wards, I find that there are a few passages that are remembered by people as they lie in their hospital beds. The first few verses of Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ are particularly well-known. But the passage that is most well remembered is Matthew 6:9-13, The Lord’s Prayer.

I pray the Lord’s Prayer at hospital bedsides at most visits I make. I probably say the Lord’s Prayer about 12 times a day. It brings comfort with its familiarity. These words that Jesus taught us bring to our lips things we might struggle to pray: adoration, petition, confession. It helps us to remember whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in, who God is.  

Perhaps today you might like to offer to God the words Jesus taught his disciples.

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.' (NIV)

Prayer — Thank you for your word. Guide me to meditate on it each day and remember who you are. Please teach me to pray.