Memory is like a lovely studded jewel from which sparkling stones keep falling off. If these stones are not preserved and set back the jewel will lose its beauty and value. That is why God has taught His people to keep a diary.

If Moses had not kept a detailed diary we would not have the Pentateuch today! It is called the Book of Moses (Mk 12:26). The Acts of the Apostles is the compilation of Dr. Luke’s diary. John kept an account of all that was happening when he was in the company of Jesus. He spent such a lot of time and paper, writing out, that finally he said, “And there are also many things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

One of God’s methods of reminding us of His past mercies is by our keeping a record of day-to-day occurrences. Once He chided His disciples’ forgetfulness. “Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?” (Mt 16:9,10). Now, why was Jesus so upset? Because, their failure to remember the past led to a lack of faith. “O you of little faith,” said Jesus and then scolded them for their forgetfulness. If they had recollected what Jesus had done earlier they would not have worried about bread. “The Israelites soon forgot His works” (Psa 106:13).

Does this not reflect our story? Many are the times we forget the significant past and make a mess of our present and break our heads over the future! Keeping a diary for the following aspects is very important:

a) Record any spiritual exercise. For example, if you have testified to someone, note it down. That will help you not to be casual about soulwinning and motivate you to pray for those souls to whom you have testified. “Lest you forget the things of God” (Dt 4:9).

b) When God gives you a specific instruction to obey, write it down and that will serve as a helpful reminder. God may speak in your morning quiet time or while reading a book or listening to a person. If you make a covenant with God, or a vow, keep a record or it. “Lest you forget the covenant of the Lord” (Dt 4:23).

c) The mercies and miracles of God in your life should be in your diary. Even what seems to be a minor event, like escaping an accident or a miraculous provision, unless recorded will be washed out, never to return. “Not forget the works of God” (Psa 78:7).

d) When God reveals a sin in you, record it that you may know yourself, become better and that one day you will rejoice to have overcome it. “Forgets what kind of man he was” (Js l:24).

e) Record any valuable exhortation you come across. Any exhortation is painful. But it becomes more palatable in course of time and our diary helps us to do something about it when the throbbing pain of sharp exhortation subsides. “Have forgotten the exhortation” (Heb 12:5).

f) Record your spiritual milestones. That will lift your heart up. Your diary should be your spiritual journal. “Forgets that he was purged” (2 Pet 1:9).

g) Write down the important events of the day. Note down the birthdays, the dates of expiry of your licences, etc., and transfer it to the new diary at the beginning of the year. “Remember the day... on this day you are going out, in the month Abib” (Ex 13:3,4).

Many are discouraged from writing a diary for want of (a) discipline and (b) time. Keeping your diary on your bed near the pillow with a small pen—exclusively for the purpose—solves the discipline problem. Spend just five minutes to recollect and write down the day’s events. That solves the time problem.

For our family our diary is the VIP on the New Year’s eve. We open it up and read out all important events, decisions, healings, promises, exhortations, vows, progresses, etc., and our hearts bubble over the mercies of the Lord. Many events flash back into our memories. It is good to attend a night service in the church on the New Year’s eve, but a family gathering of remembering the past and praising God must go before that.

Here are a few excerpts from my diaries of the past six years—

“Challenged by the book What Happens When Women Pray.”

“Prayer for Pentecost ’81. The wind and the rain came down with a mighty force inside the room as we knelt down to pray.”

“O Lord, hallow Your Name.”

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” God answered through Jer 12:5.

“Lord, make me a woman of steel nerves.”

“Thank You Lord! You talk to me daily and patiently and answer my stupid questions.”

“Lord, deliver me from self-pity.”

“Lord, how far is the apple tree from the juniper tree?”

“Let my heart be broken by the things that break Your heart.”

“I don’t want to die in my bed. I want to die in the field.”

“I am willing to even shed my blood to hallow Your Name.”

Cascades of tears have stained my diary. A colourful rainbow adorns the date when God gave me a beautiful promise. I relive my past with God when I go through my diary and that boosts up my faith.

Diaries and journals of John Wesley, David Brainerd and Praying Hyde are published and they have conveyed their spirit, zeal and vision to their readers. These men speak while they are yet dead. God says, “Write the Vision.” Let your stifled vision deploy in your diary. Let your dreams, ideas and hopes be incubated there. Blow your explosive views and bottled-up emotions on it.

When you travel, take a small card in your pocket or purse in which you can note down your lightning ideas. These may be transferred to your diary once you are back home.

Have a list of missions, mission fields, names of missionaries at the back pages for reference and prayer. Any information about them may be noted against their names as and when you come across them.

But don’t make your diary just another religious book. Include other general and medical details and informations also. For example, if you have the birthdays of your friends in your diary, when you open it up, by a quick glance over the next two dates, you can find to whom you should send greetings today. Few are those who give the world a personal touch in this mechanical age. Do not be indifferent to human affairs. Note down “Things to be done” on the last pages.

Do not put down delicate personal or family matters in black and white. It may fall into the hands of others. Write such things in a language which you alone can understand!

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and FORGET NOT all His benefits!”