Do you ever walk into a room and instantly forgot why you did? I’ve done that more times than I can count. I’ve also put the milk in the pantry and silverware in the trash. Since having children, I’ve become increasingly forgetful. But worse than that, I think I might have amnesia.
Heart amnesia.
It’s a new school year at our house and we’ve started our catechism questions over again, from the beginning. I ask the kids, “Why did God make you and all things?” They answer, “For His own glory.” Not as forgetful as I, they recall the answer without much effort.
Sometimes, I need to return to the beginning to remember what is truly important.
Returning from my writer’s conference in July, my mind was full of ideas and lessons I had learned. I set goals for myself, made deadlines, and got to work. A few weeks later, I am stressed, overwhelmed, worried, and irritable. With the new homeschool year beginning, the schedule is already full. I can’t focus on anything else and there isn’t enough time. And why can’t the kids be quiet for even fifteen minutes?
Frustrated by my feelings of restlessness, worry, and discouragement, I stop writing and sit down with God. I open to the Psalms, where I know the words will reflect and mirror the feelings of my heart. But more than that, I know the prose penned so long ago will guide my thoughts and feelings back to Him.
I open to Psalm 147 and read through to the end of the book. My mind begins to clear, my memory is triggered, and I remember who I am.
“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.” Psalm 149:1-5
These Psalms (147-150) remind me that I was created to love and glorify my Maker. I was made to live a life of Praise, not one of stress, doubt, and confusion. With my heart so focused and distracted by my self-imposed goals and plans, I had developed heart amnesia. I forgot who I was and why I am here. My plans, goals, and dreams, while all good, had become a barrier, a cloudy haze, making it hard to remember who I was made to be.
Like a person with amnesia, sometimes I need my memory triggered to remind me who I am:
- completely known (Psalm 139)
- a treasured possession (Ephesians 1:14)
- a dearly loved child (Ephesians 5:1)
- a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- a possession of God (Isaiah 43:1)
- an heir of God (Galatians 4:7)
- pure and holy (1 Corinthians 1:30)
- free! (John 8:26)
The more I remember who I am in Christ, the more my heart responds with praise. Living a life of praise is a heart posture, a habit, a way of life. It’s the only way to truly live. And it’s what I was created for.
Do you ever have heart amnesia? What is it that triggers your memory?
“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in one. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight.” A.W. Tozer
Praising God in community for (#1766-1782):
For the eight above truths that remind me who I am
start of homeschool
enjoying the new curriculum
guacamole
Opportunity where I thought there wasn’t
Planning a new study for my ladies at church and my friends here
My husband helping out with a few school activities, especially with the worm habitat
Laughter
Husband rescuing us from a huge frog hopping around the living room:)
Boys who want to do chores, and one is finally big enough to vacuum and mop!
Linking up with my friends at:
Lovely list and beautifully honest post. I especially love this quote: “Sometimes, I need to return to the beginning to remember what is truly important.” Oh, how true that is. I had a time as you mentioned after attending my first She Speaks this year. I sat before the Lord and asked specifically for direction, His leading, His will in and through me, especially through my writing, my ministry. He was faithful in speaking into my heart, giving exactly what I asked. What a wonderful Father!
Have a fantastic Monday…
Oh yes, a wonderful Father. So faithful and loving. Were you at SheSpeaks this year too?
Yes! This year was my first. What about you… Was this year your first or have you previously attended?
My first. It was overwhelming but good. So much information! Everyone was so nice and I’ve never drinken so much sweet tea:)
Oh, this describes my life in so, so many ways! I struggle with so much of this every day - the heart amnesia, the busyness, the kids (siblings, in my case). It can be so hard to keep it all in perspective. I have to make a conscious effort to seek after Him, and sometimes even that doesn’t seem to work quite the way I hoped. Praise God that He’s given us these reminders, and that He’s so infinitely patient with our forgetfulness! Thank you for sharing this!
Yes, His patience is infinite. Amazing grace! He pulls us from our wanderings and brings us back to the fold. Thanks for visiting!
Love it when they get old enough to help do big chores like that. And yes, my own imposed goals and plans definitely cloud the view about who I am on too many days to count. Thank you for helping me to see that this morning.
Thanks for your sweet words and for stopping by! Praying that He blows away those clouds, helping us to see the light that is always above them.
Christina-visiting from Laura B’s place………oh, can I relate. I had a 5 day God filled and blessed vacation and came home to noise and busyness and boom! It does take effort to wait and listen, but when there’s little time for that-praise is always a good posture.
Loved these lines:
“Living a life of praise is a heart posture, a habit, a way of life.
It’s the only way to truly live. And it’s what I was created for.”
We were created to praise and worship our maker.
God bless you and bring all of His word to pass in your life.
Thank you! It is hard to hear His whisper amongst the noise and busyness of life. May He tune our ears to hear Him, no matter what is going on around us. So glad you stopped by!
Oh, Christina,
I love how you give a name to my “condition”- and remind me to return to the Heart that knows me best when I’m plagued by forgetfulness. Always love to visit here! Your list makes me smile… especially the FROG! My kids would LOVE an unexpected green guest in our home
(But their mom wouldn’t)
And I’m glad I’m not the only one with this “condition”:) He has to remind me daily of who I am-I’m just that forgetful! Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your time with your family!
I need this today. Thank you!
Thank you, sweet friend!
Such a lovely post.
Thanks for visiting!
I often have heart amnesia, too. I love your advice-go back to the beginning. I will do that.
Thanks, Lisa. I need to start each day at the beginning it seems or I wander off. So thankful for grace that leads me back. Blessings to you!
Yes, I suffer from heart amnesia WAY TOO OFTEN. Thank you for this reminder to run to scripture. He is always our answer. Thank you for linking up too!
He is always the answer. So true! And He’s always there. Thanks for visiting!
Christina, this is such a lovely post! I do suffer from heart amnesia, and that commitment to being in the word triggers my memory! And I suffer from the same amnesia from having kiddos:) I have put the milk in the pantry and taken my son to church without shoes:) Love your heart here! Thank you!
Really? So I’m not the only one who has put milk in the pantry? Whew! So glad:) And I’m so glad you stopped by!
“Living a life of praise is a heart posture” — I LOVE THIS!! Yes, this is it!!
Love your list and can’t wait to hear all about your schooling and your writing in the upcoming months. He gives us everything we need (including time) according to when we need it friend. Remember, His grace is sufficient!!!
Thank you! Your words are always an encouragement! Blessings to you and your lovely family!
My goodness - a wonderful list to be sure. Have a fabulous day!
Thanks for visiting, Kathleen!
Heart amnesia…yes, this sounds familiar
. I’m often reminded in this same way too-straight to the Word. It’s a great remembering tool. 
Heart amnesia-good way to describe it. I think we all do well to take time periodically to remember the basics.
Thanks, Mary Beth! The basics are our foundation, yet I so often forget. So glad you stopped by!
Beautiful list!! I was wishing my hubby was home yesterday when our kitty presented me with her gift in the bedroom. A frog. Thank goodness it was dead.
I think I prefer dead frogs:) They can be alive if they stay outside! Thanks for visiting!
Coming to visit from Thankful Thursday. What a beautiful list! And so, so true! I feel like, in many ways, that I was writing this post! I can get so lost in the “busyness” of life, homeschooling, etc., that I can forget to cherish and appreciate what is truly important. Thank you so much for the eloquent reminder!
Thanks, Lisa! I’m glad you visited. Life does take over, doesn’t it? I’m so thankful that God gently reminds me of what’s important. Blessings!