Life has a way of pulling us too far in, yes? And I daresay most of us are worrying about the many different things we’re working on this hectic holiday season. Or maybe it’s how we’re certain that friend took our last conversation way the wrong way, or all those projects that need to be done, or the gifts that must be wrapped, or bought, or found again…

And they all seem to take precedence over quiet time. Or at least worrying about them does.

See, most of us are really good at meditating on the wrong things. The uncertainties are so attractive to us that we can spend hours of the night losing sleep over them, and the unchangeable past easily haunts our hearts to the point that the present and future seem just as bleak and unmoving as what’s already done.

And we know we need out. But while knowing is half the battle, it’s by far the easier half. Even having the will to change doesn’t do much if we don’t know how to break the worry cycle.

First, let’s get one thing straight. You are good at meditating. All that worry and anxiety? That is meditating. Now, meditating is not bad in and of itself. What makes it healthy or unhealthy is the focus of the meditation. Some people focus on their problems, some on themselves (which, by the way, is pride), some on false gods… But we’re Christians! We will remember the name of the Lord our God [Psalm 20:7]. We’re gonna replace meditating on uncertainty with meditating on the only certainty– God! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. 

Now that we know what we need to do, how do we actually switch the focus of our meditation? Well, we need to let God in. Not as in salvation: but more like inviting Him into everything we do, and letting Him know that we care about what He thinks about the decisions we make and the things that come our way. Proverbs 3:6 puts it this way: In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. So, when you’re at the store and deciding if you’ll get something extra, say, ‘God, You’re part of this, too. I haven’t forgotten You.’ At the checkout, when it’s more than you wish, tell God. ‘Thanks for being here with me and helping me to keep my temper.’ Driving home, ‘God, I’m remembering You’re here. Thank You for remembering me.’ And so on throughout the day. And when you focus your thoughts and decisions on God, He makes it clear where to go.

“I’ve already tried that!” I hear someone say. “It started out well enough, but after two minutes my mind wandered and I only remembered it again during my nightly anxiety session.” Is that you? Well, I admit, it’s very hard to break a habit, especially in this instant gratification world. But here’s a way to start small and intentionally set aside time for meditating on God.

This first time, we’ll make a remembrance list down in the comments. Once you’re done reading, take a few seconds and write three things you can intentionally remember today that God has done for you, shown you, kept from you for your sake, or given to you. (If you want bonus points, share this post with three more people!)

Then, get a small piece of paper and a fun pen and write those remembrances down there, too. Put it somewhere you spend a lot of time, and tomorrow, add another paper with new remembrances, and so forth. It doesn’t take long, and it helps to rewire your mind and heart to meditate on God and His good instead of meditating on the problems and questions in your life.

Here’s an example of a remembrance list…

I remember that God has put me in a family of people who love Him.
I remember that God has never let me down.
I remember that God has proven His love and faithfulness to me many times.

Extra! Extra!

You know that verse about God ‘not remembering our sins anymore’ [Hebrews 10:14-17]? Something really cool about the word remember here…

If someone’s finger (a ‘member’) gets chopped off (‘dismembered’), sometimes the doctors can re-attach the cut off finger (re-member)! Pretty gross, but still awesome. This idea of a lost part of you returning to you is how we got the word ‘remember’. So when God says, I won’t remember your sins anymore, He doesn’t mean that He’s suddenly going to become forgetful (He is omniscient, after all), it is that He intentionally dismembers your sins from you for eternity! Your sins are literally as far away from you as the east is from the west [Psalm 103:12] and cannot be re-attached.

I’ll see you along the Way!