Prayerdemic Prayers – History Is Not Cancelled

“Be careful.”

“Drive safely.”

Why do we tell our loved ones such things? Because history has shown us what can go wrong if we’re not careful. We want them to observe the laws put in place for their safety, like stop signs. Experience teaches where those stop signs should be. A stolen stop sign once resulted in me colliding with another car in an intersection!

Some people today would like to steal, or “cancel,” history – or certain parts at least. But we can’t pick and choose which parts to keep or throw away. What’s done is done–good or bad. And history will repeat itself, or as it’s been said, those who don’t remember history are apt to repeat it–unless we learn its lessons.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… Hosea 4:6

That’s why God repeatedly tells us in the Bible, “Remember the things of old” (Isaiah 46:9) and “Don’t forget the Lord your God and his commands” (Deuteronomy 8:11), because we are to look back and learn. It’s the same as saying, “Be careful” as our loved ones get in their car. Ignoring the yield signs, stoplights and train signals could be disastrous. Ignoring history can be too. Attempting to erase history can be like stealing the stop sign. We cannot opt out of the consequences of removing or ignoring the cautions.

One part of history some want to erase is His-story, the Bible. How has taking that “warning sign” out of schools and society worked out for us? The further we get from God’s commandments, the worse our society gets. His Story is the only life-changing, love-fulfilling, hope-giving anchor we have (Hebrews 6:19).

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children… Deuteronomy 4:9

If we’re paying attention, we can look back and see what happened when God’s people continually ignored His laws, put in place for their own good (Psalm 106 recounts much of it). We can even look “back to the future” and see what has been prophesied to happen in the “last days” (Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3:1-9; and if you like thrillers, you might want to check out Daniel and Revelation). Ignoring it or not believing it doesn’t make its reality go away (Romans 1:18-32).

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:17

We truly cannot erase, rewrite or cancel history. What has happened happened. We can be grateful it is there for us to learn and heed its lessons, if we will.

We can live and learn, or we can listen and learn.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Let’s pray to the God of history – the God of His-story – to help us learn from yesterday and give us wisdom for our tomorrows.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Word! thank you that You are the same yesterday today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Thank you that You are unchanging (Malachi 3:6), dependable (Psalm 89:34) and our Rock (Psalm 18:12).

Thank you for those who have gone before us to be an example and blaze the path before us (Deuteronomy 32:7). Help us to learn from them (Deuteronomy 4:9); give us wisdom to know how to live in these days (James 1:5). Thank you for your commandments, which teach us how to live and Your word that gives us hope (Romans 15:4).

Lord we ask Your forgiveness. Help us to truly repent (2 Chronicles 7:14). We have not been careful to remember Your commandments (Deuteronomy 8:11). We have forgotten Your power and the days when You delivered us from our enemies (Psalm 78.42). Help us to remember the former things of old; for You are our God, and there is none like You (Isaiah 46:9). Help us to regard what we’ve seen and heard and to repent, lest You come suddenly (Revelation 3:3). Help us to delight in Your decrees and not neglect Your Word (Psalm 119:16). Help us to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Lord, we pray for revival in our land! (Psalm 85:6) Lord God, we pray for all men to seek and find You; that they would search for You with all their heart and with all their soul. In our tribulation, and all the things coming upon us in these days, we pray we will return to the Lord our God and obey His voice. For You are rich in mercy and love (Ephesians 2:4).

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it, for how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 1:1-3)

You, O Lord, are enthroned forever; may you be remembered throughout all generations (Psalm 102.12).

In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

What has history, and/or His-story, taught you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments here or on social media. And thanks for stopping by! I pray your time here has been a blessing.

Previous week’s Prayerdemic Prayers:

Heaven’s Armies Are Not Cancelled

Healing is Not Cancelled

Help is Not Cancelled

Holiness is Not Cancelled

Hope is Not Cancelled

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Next post: His Commandments Are Not Cancelled

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