Psalm 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.

There is a reason to record what God does, and that is so that later generations will know about it to give Him praise. We actually are aware of only a tiny fraction of all that God does for us, so when we do recognize things God does, it is helpful to record them to help others recognize them as well. That is the original motivation behind the writing of a major portion of the Bible, as a matter of fact. A few generations back, Fox’s Book of Martyrs was common reading in devout Christian households, but I’ll confess that I’ve never read it myself. However, I have read books like Through Gates of Splendor that were along that line, and they have been inspiring indeed. Secular media provide an endless flood of bad news, and we need something to counterbalance that. It’s not that we are to ignore the world around us, but our focus needs to be on God above all. This problem certainly didn’t originate with modern media; Paul dealt with it explicitly. Right after his famous instructions in Philippians 4:6-7 on how to avoid anxiety, he says this: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) This is why we need to read, and as God directs, write, records of what He has done.

I have worked through a book my older daughter, Ruth, gave me called A Father’s Legacy. She picked it up in a Christian bookstore several years ago and sent it to me for Fathers Day, but it took me a long time to get around to finishing it. Rather than a book to read, it is a book to write, with question after question, broken down by subjects and intended to be paced out over the course of a year. I was able to take a retreat early this year and took the opportunity to finish it, and that got me inspired to start on a memoir, but I’ll confess to not having gotten very far with that. This verse is a good push to do so! I have indeed seen God work in countless ways, sometimes amazingly, and recording that for others to know can help them trust God better themselves. Writing can be hard work, and it certainly requires persistence, but I am not to draw back from anything that gives God glory.

Father, You have given me a gift for words, as various people have recognized since my childhood. Help me use my words to draw more and more people to You, that they may taste and see that You are good indeed, (Psalm 34:8) and commit themselves to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!