Is Your Phone Asking You, “What Doctor Are We Going to Now?”

by Kathy Collard Miller

I recently laughed at a meme on social media that said, “You know you’re old when you get in your car and your phone asks, ‘What doctor are we going to this time?’”

I relate to that more and more as I age. More sadly, another part of getting older is that I can’t remember what I studied and read, whether it’s a book, someone’s blog post, or worst of all,  the Bible.

My husband, Larry, and I were commiserating with each other the other day about this. We looked at the piles of books we’d read in preparation for writing our next book. Only knowing we had done lots of underlining gave us confidence we would be able to refer back to the important material we would be using.

We both wished we could apply every day the amazing truths we’ve read over the decades of following Christ. It is discouraging to think that we can’t remember everything we’ve ever taken in. But then I said to Larry, “Maybe we can think of it this way. We can’t remember what we had for dinner three years ago, but it nourished us at the time and became a part of us.”

It’s the same way with reading the Word of God or other worthwhile books—or the sermon we heard on Sunday. The Spirit of God applies it to our lives at that time and builds us up spiritually and mentally. We may not remember everything, but it has become a part of us.

Now, certainly, we should take the time and effort to memorize, recall and re-concentrate on important truths. We also need to respond in obedience to what we hear and read. Those are the elements for truth to be powerful in our lives. But don’t be discouraged if it seems you remember so little over a long period of time. The Spirit of God is faithful to apply it all for the edifying of our spirits. We may not even remember what work He did, but He has. And He promises to bring to our remembrance what we need to apply and share with others.

Hebrews 4:12 assures us, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (NASB).

If we’ve cooperated with the Spirit by responding to what we read and heard, the heart surgery has already occurred. We have been changed, and as we continue to seek and grow, the results will be revealed. 

Even when we don’t remember everything!

This article brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

Kathy Collard Miller is an international speaker and author of more than 60 books including Heart of Courage: The Daughters of the King Bible Study Series. This study includes ten lessons on the topics of having more courage to represent God, serve, overcome discouragement, within the family, in church, standing against popular opinion, standing against evil, at work, facing temptation and how Jesus inspires us to be more courageous. It includes questions to answer, commentary, and an emphasis on studying biblical women. It’s perfect for individual or group study.

Join the conversation: How are you encouraged or comforted even when you can’t remember everything you’ve studied?

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