Have you ever noticed how easily we forget things? Something that becomes very apparent in the unfolding biblical narrative is just how forgetful the people of God are, and this includes us. Again and again, God’s people are prone to forget what he has done, even after experiencing his faithfulness firsthand.

This is why we see throughout Scripture God calling his people to a practice of remembrance. It is a way to combat our forgetfulness and hearts that are prone to wander amid the busyness and hurry of everyday life that can distract and overwhelm us.

To help us remember, God provides tools, practices, and commands centred on remembrance. It is a call to look back in order to move forward in faithful obedience and submission, with God at the helm.

In Joshua 3 and 4, God miraculously cuts off the flow of the Jordan River so Israel can cross into the Promised Land. Afterward, God instructs Joshua to gather twelve stones as a memorial. This moment is part of a larger pattern throughout Scripture. Again and again, God’s people build memorials—stones, altars, and written records—to remember the mighty acts of God and to proclaim that God was faithful here.

Remembrance, as a practice and discipline, is powerful. It draws us into gratitude and thankfulness and helps us recognize what God has done in the past so we can faithfully navigate the present. Even when we do not see it in the moment, we are reminded that God is at work in and through us with a plan and purpose for our good.

What are your stones of remembrance?