Trash Can Reminders

Because Jason is in the Army, he randomly leaves for weeks on end to do training exercises, gun ranges and other things. All jobs require on-the-job training, Jason's is just overnight for extended periods of time. Because of this, something terrible often happens in our house: I have to remember to take out the trash. It becomes so habitual that Jason will see to this task that when he is gone, I almost always forget. I won't forget for just one week either, we're talking three weeks. That was a bad month. For his last field training, however, I became ferociously determined to remember to take out the trash. I had reminders everywhere. Alarms were set, sticky notes were stuck. I was going to take out the trash. And I did. Most nights I didn't remember until I had already gone to bed, but remember I did! Through this I found that if you write enough reminders, you're likely to stumble upon one.

I bring this all up because recently I gave myself a challenge. That challenge is to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. For now, I am working on Matthew's version which is only three chapters. This is the first time I have ever sat down and tried to memorize a large, continuous scripture. I have lots of memory verses, but I really have felt the need to study and memorize the actual words of Jesus. I figure, the better I know what he says, the better I can understand him and the better I can explain him to others. I was really inspired by the Psalms and how often they call us to know God's word. Check out Psalm 119:97-104

Oh how I love your law!

I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are ever with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws,

for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.

Obviously, the better we know God's law, the better we can follow it and implement it into our lives.
That being said, memorization is hard. And in all honesty, I have often forgotten my goal to memorize. Yet, when I lay down at night and remember, I often mumble a small prayer of forgiveness (without feeling much guilt), roll over and fall fast asleep.

How sad is it that I will jump out of bed to take out the trash, but will not even sit up and turn on a light to memorize God's word? The worst part is that it is so easy to tell myself, "Maybe tomorrow." I think this is so easy because I am taking advantage of God's grace. The trash men will not come around and pick up my trash if I call them, but God will always allow me to take out my trash, and that is how I rationalize it. This is so wrong and so sad. Rather than being humbled and moved by the sacrificial grace of Christ, I use it as an excuse to not do what he has called me to do. Please do not fall into this trap!

So if you have trouble remembering to read your Bible, remembering to pray or remembering to do something God has asked you to do, don't allow yourself to be distracted. I truly believe the Devil will work against you in this, as he has me, so we need to start fighting back. Ask God to help you remember, and then put up reminders. Put verses in your house, stick sticky notes in your car, write it on your calendar, put a reminder in your phone. Eventually, you will forge the habit and no longer require the reminders. But please, please take this seriously. Will God forgive you when you fail? Certainly. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't do everything in our power to more effectively follow his will. So break out the reminders and alarms and refuse to give into the excuses. I promise you, your hard work, diligence and faithfulness will be rewarded.