Years ago, Mom taught me a neat trick for those times when I can’t remember the name of someone or something.
“Go through the alphabet,” she suggested. “Usually a letter will stand out, and it will jog your memory.”
No doubt many of you have discovered the same strategy.
Now that I’m getting older, it has occurred to me: Is it my imagination, or am I using the alphabet to jog my memory more than I used to?
That question brought a silly visualization to my mind. Who is the oldest Person we know? God–he has always existed, even before time itself, right?
What if he experienced memory challenges? I can see him with his elbow propped on the throne, stroking the thick, white wool of his beard, the other hand tapping absent-mindedly against the folds of his glowing robe. He’s talking out loud to himself (another habit of the elderly).
“Oh, what is her name? I can see her face…She’s one of our brown-eyed, brown-haired children. I just love deep, dark eyes…Isn’t she the one We blessed with a raise, even though she didn’t ask for it? Oh, what is her name?”
I told you it was silly. God doesn’t have memory problems! He is all-powerful and all-knowing. Actually, considering his magnificent splendor, it’s really quite amazing he cares about us at all.
David wrote, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him” (Psalm 8:4)?
Mindful. I like that. God’s mind is full of us. He not only knows our names, he knows the number of hairs on each of our heads (Matthew 10:30). It stands to reason God knows our favorite colors, and what each of us was doing ten years ago today.
And when we consider he has planets, moons, and stars to orchestrate, it is no small wonder he concerns himself with such little specks as us.
Another psalmist wrote, “The Lord remembers us and will bless us” (Psalm 115:12a).
Not only does he remember who we are, he remembers our needs and blesses us accordingly.
Meditate on that concept for a moment. God supplies our every need.
James Janeway, a Puritan minister and author of the seventeenth century, said that such contemplations are enough to launch us forth into an ocean of goodness, where you can see no shore, nor feel the bottom. I like that, too.
Here’s another concept worthy of careful thought: God’s mindfulness did not begin when each of us was born. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). Could our days have been recorded without God’s knowledge? No. That means we have been on his mind since before each of our birth dates.
And last, God’s mindfulness will never end. He will continue to be mindful of us in the future, into infinity. “I will never stop doing good to them” (Jeremiah 32:40), He said. And “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15b).
Oh, Father, thank you for your constant, caring attention. Thank you for your ocean of goodness from which you bless us. In return, may I be mindful of you, remembering the wonders you have done, your miracles (Psalm 105:5a). I want to praise you continually, and forget not one of all your benefits (103:2).
From the Inside Out 
Nancy, we spent the weekend in Southern California and some time at the beach….when I picture it in my mind, I will think of ‘oceans of goodness.’
This was a mindfully written post. 🙂
Thank you, Jody! “Oceans of goodness” is definitely a good visual to hang on to.
Considering how forgetful I have become, I am extremely thankful of a God who is ever mindful of each of us individually without fail! Love your visual!
Thank you, Tresa! Yes, indeed, it is reassuring to know our God is always watching over us.
I thought I was the only one who used the alphabet method of recall. Good to know I’m in such good company. mjo
A-a-w, thank you Mary Jo. We can work the alphabet on those forgotten names at choir practice!
Thank you Nancy, it is good to know that I am not the only one who tends to forget. It is called normal aging. It is a blessing to know God never forgets us. It is amazing that we have forgotten people in our past and their names, but God still knows who they are. God bless you.
Indeed, it is such a comfort and relief to be a child of the King, to be watched over and cared for by a mindful God. Thank you for your comments, Laura, that bring my heart to praise Him for his loving kindness!
Yes, I use the alphabet in order to jog my memory for names. I remember a teacher telling us to use a sentence in order to remember how to spell g-e-o-g-r-a-p-h-y: Go east on gravel road and paint house yellow. (The first letter of each word will spell geography!!!! )
I have also learned to pray, and then the Spirit of Jesus will bring a name to mind. I love it when that happens. God cares even about helping me remember a person’s name!!! He certainly is mindful of us. I am so glad I am His child!
Keep up the inspiring devotions. I love them.
Thank you, Nikki, for being a faithful follower! Yes, a mindful God that reminds us of what we forget–how wonderful is that?!
Ah, I remember using NIkki’s trick quite often while in school! It is comforting to know that I’m not the only one who walks into a room to get something…then can’t remember what I was retrieving! Or running into someone who looks totally familiar but whose name momentarily eludes me. Embarrassing! But knowing that Christ knew me before I even existed, who knows and remembers everything I’ve accomplished, who knows my heart…seeing the goodness of my intentions but also seeing the mistakes and sins I’ve committed. But best of all knowing he FORGIVES!
What inspiration and fun writing here today. Love the phrase; God’s mind is full of us. A glorious thought!
Thank you, Jean. ‘So glad I had the privilege to plant a glorious thought in your mind. Praise God!
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