Exodus 17:14 English Standard Version (ESV) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Journals are meant to show our personal journey with God. Moses is the scribe for God writing down what God tells him to write. God authored the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, by revelation of things lost to mankind because of failed memories.

Those that lived out their journey with God did not keep journals. If they had, time would have reduced them to dust. The creation of papyrus came much later in history which left evidence of the early journals left by Moses and copied over and over again by dedicated scribes.

Yesterday I pulled out of my own personal journals something I had written nine years ago. It needed some editing because I am further along in my journey with God and I see things more clearly now. Journals help track growth, maturity and clarity in understanding. 

They also show which words are our own thoughts and which ones God spoke to write them down. Words inspired by God are not just for our own personal amusement but were meant for others, just as they were meant for Joshua.

What those words, inspired by God, did for Joshua, they can do the same for others. Blot out memories of Amalek, which means “a people who lick up” according to Hitchcok’s Bible Names. This is an illustration of taking knowledge from what has been spilled to the ground, influenced and polluted by the world. 

We have the privilege of having the abiding presence of the Spirit of Truth in us. That which He brings to us has never touched the ground and is meant to blot out that which has been tainted by the world.

Our journals are a reflection of our journey, our influences and a clear indication of how our thoughts have been replaced with truth, blotted out as it were.

Do not allow our journals to just collect dust. Use them to remind ourselves of when God touched us and changed us on our journey together.

Sojourners of the earth, do not breathe the dust our feet kick up. 

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

As I pick up my cup of coffee and take a sip, I do so without much thought of what it takes to make the connection between will and action. I just do it.

Have you ever had a stroke or been close to someone who has suffered a stroke? It becomes painfully clear that there is a great deal more than just will in any act. Connections are broken and if one is lucky parts of the brain that are not damaged can be trained to take up the slack where there is loss.

Have you ever been fortunate enough to have your memory stirred to recall scripture with relevant understanding when reading a devotional? Does the Holy Spirit bring to mind other scriptures that enhance your reading? Does He draw connections for you between the Word and life events? Does He comfort, exhort, correct and instruct you?

Does He still do that or as with a stroke patient do you find force of will is no longer enough? Have you given up trying to reestablish the connection between will and action? Faith is the connection between the will of God and the life we live. The just shall live by faith. Do you hear the scripture? Is there still a spark of connection the Holy Spirit is trying to exercise?

2 Peter 3:1b I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Edited and reposted from 1/31/2014. Still good today, and so is God.