Scripture Reference: Lamentations 3:21, KJV- “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”
There are days when the LORD will not allow me to leave verses in His Word. Although I think I should be moving on there is something that brings me back to dig for what the LORD is attempting to share with me.
The past few days I have been camping out in Lamentations. I have already written that these were dark and desperate times for the Children of God. Not only were they starving to death physically from the lack of food, but Jeremiah was reminding them that we can also starve ourselves of hope and peace if we do not recall who the LORD is.
We must be careful as to where we allow our minds to linger. We can be deprived of peace and forget what prosperity is as we are reminded in Lamentations 3:17. When we keep our minds on our afflictions, miseries, and bitterness, our souls become downcast within us just as Jeremiah wrote about in Lamentations 3:19-20.
Lamentations 3:21 is the key we need to open the doors of hope. We must stop and turn our minds away from our troubles to recall who the LORD is. Regardless of what our eyes are seeing, or our emotions or stomachs are telling us we can remember the faithful love of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:24 instructs us to listen to our souls, “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (NKJV) The Biblehub.com summary informs us “To say, ‘The LORD is my portion,’ is to declare that God Himself—His presence, promises, and covenant faithfulness—is one’s ultimate inheritance, security, identity, and satisfaction, both now and eternally, guaranteed by the risen Christ.”
This is the voice and perspective we must turn and listen to. God’s Word, The Bible, are the words we must recall. We must turn away from all other voices and recall what God has told us. He is our hope. Lamentations 3:25 brings a smile to my face, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (NKJV)
I believe that we can wait for God and His inheritance. I also believe that we can seek Him with all our souls. Lamentations 3:26 continues to give me hope: “So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.” (NLT) Yes, it is good to shut out the turmoil of life and to simply wait quietly for the salvation of our LORD.
Even if we lack the ability to recall what the LORD has done, we can ask the LORD to turn or restore us back to Him as Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 5:21-22, “Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old, Unless You have utterly rejected us, and are very angry with us!” (NKJV) Fortunately, we live in times of the New Covenant given to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A quick Google AI search provides further scriptures in the New Testament that instruct us to turn and set our minds on God, spiritual truths, and things above rather than worldly concerns. Our concerns.
Key verses that direct where and how to turn our minds include:
• Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
• Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast [or stayed on you], because they trust in you.”
• Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable… think about these things.”
• Romans 8:6: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Let us turn and recall our God today.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to recall Your word and love for us. Please turn our heart, minds, and souls to You today. Transform our minds, LORD, to know Your Spirit of life and peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, we do turn to You now. Amen.
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