A Faithful Memory
Read This Week: Deuteronomy 11
Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm. – Deuteronomy 11:1-2 NIV
Deuteronomy 11 is a major preparation passage. Moses is readying Israel to enter the Promised Land, and he repeatedly calls them, as he has before, to remember, love, obey, and teach. He begins with a simple command: Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws, and his commands always. Love and obedience belong together. Throughout Scripture, love for God is not merely an emotion or an inward affection; it takes shape in how we live. At the same time, obedience without love can become empty religion. Father God desires a people whose lives are shaped by affection for Him, gratitude toward Him, and trust in His word.
This chapter is remarkably relevant to our lives. We sometimes think that spiritual maturity is primarily about learning more information, but what we remember and practice determines how we live. Spiritually, memory is meant to produce faithfulness. When life becomes uncertain, we are prone to focus exclusively on what is happening now. Anxiety tells us to forget yesterday’s faithfulness and stare only at tomorrow’s uncertainty. Biblical remembrance turns our attention backward, not to live in the past, but to recover confidence in the God who has already carried us through.
We must also model this faith for the next generation. Israel was to teach their children, talk about God’s commands throughout the day, and keep His words before them continually. This challenges the tendency to treat faith as a private compartment of life. Our relationship with Jesus should be woven into meals, conversations, decisions, work, parenting, relationships, and ordinary routines. What we repeatedly talk about and practice eventually becomes part of our personal culture and our homes.
Another striking theme is dependence. Moses contrasts the land of Egypt, where agriculture could depend heavily on human irrigation, with the Promised Land, which depended upon rain from heaven. Modern life gives us an extraordinary illusion of control. We can schedule, insure, automate, save, plan, and calculate almost everything. These are good and responsible practices, but they can quietly persuade us that our security rests in our ability to manage life. The Bible calls us back to humility. Work faithfully, but remember that you are dependent. Plan carefully, but pray. Use your abilities, but acknowledge the One who gave them. Gratitude is one way we resist the illusion of self-sufficiency.
The chapter concludes with the imagery of blessing and curse, life and death set before Israel. Moses is not presenting obedience as a way to manipulate God into giving us what we want. Rather, he is describing the profound reality that we live with the consequences of what we worship and obey. Our choices form us. What we repeatedly give ourselves to eventually shapes our character, our relationships, and our direction.
Perhaps the most practical lesson is also the simplest: remember God intentionally. Remember His faithfulness when we are afraid. Remember His provision when we are tempted by scarcity. Remember His commands when convenience becomes more attractive than obedience. Remember His character when circumstances make Him seem distant. And remember Him in the ordinary moments, because faith is rarely formed in extraordinary moments alone. We have to be intentional because our spiritual lives are formed through thousands of small acts of remembrance, trust, obedience, gratitude, and worship.
A faithful life begins with a faithful memory. We become forgetful when we constantly stare at our circumstances and forget the God behind them. But when we deliberately remember who God is and what He has done, our hearts are reoriented to Him. We begin to obey not merely because we are commanded to, but because we know that God has been faithful every step of the way.
SUNDAY PODCAST
This Week with God: Deuteronomy 11
The Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260927message.wav
Worship Songs:
Draw Me Close
I Love You Lord
How do you feel when you think about your past? Are you proud of it? Or are there things you regret?
I think for most all of us, we’ve had some good moments and some that weren’t so good. I know for me, I definitely have. There are certain things I wish I could go back and change. But those are also lessons I’ve learned that help me today. I know what not to do because I’ve seen where it leads.
But there have also been so many times when I’ve seen God’s goodness. I’ve seen the goodness of other people. And there have been times when I’ve done what was right. Those are the things I want to fill my mind with today, because they help me be strong, be bold, be courageous, and do it again.
When I’m facing a challenge, I can look back and say, “Yeah, I know what not to do. But I also remember when I did the right thing. I remember how God came through. I remember someone who was a good example in this area, and that’s the kind of example I want to be.”
I want to step forward and do what’s right—what the Lord wants, and what’s good for others as well as for me.
And so our past doesn’t have to be something that binds us. We can look at it honestly, learn the lessons, and bring those lessons into how we live today. We don’t have to keep our minds on the failures, the disappointments, and the hurts. We can remember the good, remember God’s blessings, and remember the people who helped us along the way.
Our past can teach us what not to do, but it can also remind us what to do. It can inspire us to trust God and do good today, not just for ourselves, but for others.
1. Remember What God Has Done
Moses reminds the people that they have personally witnessed God’s power, provision, and discipline. Those experiences should shape their response to Him.
When life becomes uncertain, we can become so focused on the present problem that we forget past faithfulness. Deliberately remembering what God has done helps us face what comes next with greater trust. We can also remember what His correction has taught us.
Remember His faithfulness when you face uncertainty.
2. Love God Enough to Follow Him
Moses repeatedly connects love for God with obedience, wholehearted service, and dependence on Him. Israel will need His provision in the land just as surely as they needed His power to leave Egypt.
We express our love for God through our daily choices. We work faithfully, give thanks for His provision, and obey even when convenience pulls us in another direction. His past faithfulness gives us reason to trust His guidance today.
Let your love for God shape the way you live.
3. Make Your Faith Part of Everyday Life
God’s words are to be held in the heart, practiced in the home, and taught throughout the day. The next generation needs to hear about Him and see what trusting Him looks like.
Our spiritual lives are formed through repeated acts of remembrance, trust, obedience, gratitude, and worship. As these become part of our ordinary routines, we help others—especially our children—learn to recognize and follow God.
Remember Him. Walk with Him. Teach the next generation.
Deuteronomy Chapter 11 Verse 7
For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord which He did.
Deuteronomy Chapter 11 Verse 12
A land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
Deuteronomy chapter 11 Verse 22
For if you diligently keep all this commandment which I command you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to Him.
Deuteronomy Chapter 11 Verse 23
Then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you shall dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.
God Is Saying To Me:
My child, follow Me with your whole heart and dismiss disobedience. Your faith in Me and all of My provisions for you will produce stronger faith, victory in battles and abundant blessings No matter the season or circumstance, I’m always watchful and constant throughout your life if you choose Me!
My Story:
I’ve recently had a complete total knee replacement surgery and following, I had to go to physical therapy. I have a copayment for therapy and also the cost of transportation to get there and back. With God’s help and God’s blessings, I’ve been able to handle the cost so far. However, the last few weeks have been costly and I had begun to pray and ask God for wisdom and guidance concerning continuing to go to therapy.
About a week and a half went by and on my Tuesday visit to therapy, my therapist told me that he had a test to give to me to see how I am progressing with therapy. After going through and completing all the tests and requirements, my therapist told me I did not have to return unless I began to have some kind of problem and to make an appointment with the surgeon first. I was happy and sad at the same time. I will miss seeing the people around me but happy that I didn’t have to worry about money any longer for that service.
Because I had been praying and asking God for wisdom, he knew my heart and my sincerity to do the right thing and he met me right there at therapy and blessed me with an opportunity to take the test and pass or fail. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, it was God giving me wisdom right on the spot through my efforts and the therapist’s test! I trusted the results and heard God say to me, “my child, you’re finished with this chapter in your life!”
I thanked everyone for their efforts, time, direction and gave God all the glory! Thank you Father God for helping me to pass my test and show the staff I was capable of graduating 5 weeks early from the therapy program. Father God also reminded me that He heard my prayer and cry for wisdom and guidance. This is a wonderful example of how God is faithful and His timing is meticulously correct. He’s with me always and helps me to ‘choose life’ every single moment!
Stay close to God, get wise counsel through other Christians, prayer and follow your purpose in the Lord each day! Father God you are a good, good Father! I love you Lord, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that resides within my heart! ❤️
CHOOSE LIFE — DEUTERONOMY 11
Hold Closely to Father God
Moses is preparing the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. They had seen Father God deliver them, provide for them, protect them, and faithfully lead them.
Now Moses tells them: Don’t forget what you have seen Father God do.
Deuteronomy 11:7 AMP
“But your own eyes have [actually] seen all the great work of the LORD which He did.”
You can do the same.
When something difficult happens, stop and remember: What have your own eyes seen Father God do?
How has Father God carried you?
How has Father God provided for you?
How has Father God given you strength?
Remembering Father God’s faithfulness helps you trust Father God with what you cannot see yet.
Guard Your Heart
Deuteronomy 11:16 AMP
“Beware that your hearts are not deceived…”
Pay attention to what is happening in your heart. Hurt, disappointment, fear, and worry can quickly take your focus away from Father God.
Before reacting, ask:
“Father God, what is happening in my heart, and how do You want me to respond?”
Sometimes Father God may lead you to forgive, apologize, have a loving conversation, establish a healthy boundary, or simply give someone you cannot change back to Him.
Hold Closely to Father God
Moses told the people to put Father God’s Word in their hearts and “hold closely to Him” (Deuteronomy 11:18, 22).
That means when you are hurting, confused, or worried, you go to Father God first.
Jesus showed us how. Even through rejection, hurt, and difficult people, Jesus stayed close to Father God.
You can learn to do the same.
Instead of letting someone else’s behavior determine yours, stop and ask:
“Jesus, show me how You want me to respond.”
Choose Life
Your everyday choices matter.
You choose life when you forgive instead of holding onto bitterness.
You choose life when you pray instead of worrying.
You choose life when you obey Father God instead of reacting from your feelings.
Whatever you are facing today, you do not have to figure everything out at once.
Remember Father God’s faithfulness.
Guard your heart.
Ask Jesus how to respond.
Hold closely to Father God.
One situation at a time.
One decision at a time.
One day at a time.
That’s choosing life.
Prayer You Can Pray
Father God, help me hold closely to You today. Guard my heart and help me remember how faithful You have always been. Before I react, help me ask You how You want me to respond. Help me choose Your way, one decision at a time. Amen.
I love You, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. ❤️️✨