Subtitle: …Remember and Celebrate

Excerpt: …Remember and Celebrate

Author: Randy DeVaul

God never intended for His people to simply live from moment to moment without looking back. From the earliest pages of Scripture, He instituted a rhythm — a divine cadence — that invites us to remember what He has done, and then to celebrate who He is. It’s more than a pattern; it’s a spiritual practice that anchors the soul and renews strength.

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, their feet were still damp when God gave the next instruction: take stones from the river and set them up as a memorial. Each stone represented a tribe, but more importantly, each stone proclaimed a truth — God made a way when there was no way. That monument wasn’t about nostalgia; it was about building faith. As Joshua explained, “In the future, when your children ask… you will tell them” (Joshua 4). Remembrance was meant to be communal, generational, and lasting.

Throughout the Old Testament, God embedded remembrance into the culture of His people — through festivals like Passover, which retold the story of deliverance, and through songs that chronicled His mighty acts. These weren’t dry retellings. They were celebrations of divine power, justice, mercy, and love. Every feast, every altar, every story rehearsed among them whispered the same truth: Remember how far God has brought you.

And what happens when we truly remember? It leads to joy. It leads to worship. It leads to celebration.

The New Testament continues this rhythm, now centered on Christ’s finished work. Jesus Himself instituted a new memorial — not with stones, but with bread and wine. “Do this in remembrance of Me,” He said at the Last Supper, linking remembrance directly to relationship and redemption. Paul later reminded the church to rejoice always and give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Not occasionally. Not when life feels easy. But always. Because celebration is not based on our circumstances — it’s rooted in God’s character.

Celebration is fuel for spiritual endurance. When believers remember what God has done for us — through salvation, through provision, through deliverance — we stand more boldly in the present. When we remember what God has done in us — transforming our hearts, renewing our minds — we live with deeper conviction. And when we remember what He has done through us — in ministry, in relationships, in moments of quiet obedience — we find purpose and renewed calling.

This rhythm of remembrance and celebration builds faith because it shifts our focus. Instead of staring at problems, we fix our eyes on promises. Instead of being consumed by what’s missing, we celebrate what’s been given. Instead of fearing tomorrow, we recall how He’s come through every yesterday.

So for every Christian — whether you’ve walked with God for decades or just begun the journey — take time to remember. Look back over the landscape of grace that has brought you this far. Mark the moments of healing, the whispers of guidance, the strength that came just when you needed it. And then, celebrate. Rejoice with songs, with prayers, with stories shared over meals. Let your joy be a testimony. Because when we remember and celebrate, our faith doesn’t just endure — it grows.

Perhaps that’s why Scripture teaches that one generation shall commend God’s works to another (Psalm 145). Because each celebration becomes a stone of remembrance for someone else. And each testimony of God’s goodness adds strength to the body of Christ.

Let us be people who remember deeply. Celebrate joyfully. And grow steadily in the faith, knowing that the God who was faithful before will be faithful still.