Remember me

 

Beloved, have you ever felt that God has forgotten all about you? It seems like ages since you’ve been calling and crying out for help, according to Isaiah 58:9 but you haven’t received an answer as Isaiah promised.

But that verse comes with a caveat; have you done everything that you were supposed to do? Have you been obedient?

Here’s what Isaiah 58:9 (NIV) says,

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

And the “ifs” continue for a few more verses and it’s only after the “ifs” that the “thens” are fulfilled.

We are always asking God for this and that but aren’t always willing to do our part and then we wonder, “Doesn’t God remember me?”

We pray, Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people (Psalm 106:4 NIV) yet you refuse to do His will, you refuse to forgive, you refuse to repent, you refuse to turn the other cheek, you refuse to give up your sexual misconduct, you refuse to let go of whatever God has been telling you to release, you refuse and refuse and refuse.

You find it hard to show others favour but you want God to show you favour? You won’t even give way to other drivers on the road for goodness sake.

You refuse to follow the “Golden Rule” that I’m sure you’ve heard time and time again since childhood, from your mom or grandmother but probably did not realize that it’s something that Jesus said,

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12 NIV)

Despite your behaviour, God has not forgotten you, He certainly remembers you, after all He has engraved you on the palms of [His] hands (read Isaiah 49:14-16). However, before God gives to you, He is waiting for you to give to Him.

God is waiting for you to give Him your will and your way in exchange for His will and His way. God is waiting for you to give Him your worries and anxieties (see 1 Peter 5:7).

In 1 Samuel, we are told of a woman named Hannah who in her desperation to have a child, a son, made a promise to God,

“Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV)

And God remembered Hannah (also v. 19) and her son Samuel grew up in God’s presence (1 Samuel 2:21).

You can’t be asking God to give to you and not be willing to give back to God no matter what it may be.

When my own children were born, I gave them back to God, not by taking them to live with the priest as Hannah did, but I understood that they belonged to God.

Beloved, if you want God to remember you when you pray, you must remember Him for who He is and not only for what He can give you.

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. (Psalm 25:7 NIV)

Remember God for His love.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NIV)

Remember God for His forgiveness.

Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love. (Nehemiah 13:22 NIV)

Remember God for His mercy.

Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. (Jeremiah 15:15 NIV)

Remember God for His care.

O my God, [earnestly] remember me for good and imprint me [on Your heart]! (Nehemiah 13:31 AMPC)

Remember God for His goodness.

The same God who remembered Noah and Sarah and Rachel and Joseph and Hannah and Daniel and Job and the thief on a cross and Cornelius, is the same God who remembers you and me.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Remember me” ©2026 May 18, 2026