Do You Have Spiritual Alzheimer's?

For the life of me, I couldn’t remember where I’d put the stamped envelopes my husband asked me to address. “They were right here on the counter,” I said in frustration, “but I moved them when I cleaned before the party.” 

And that check. Did I deposit it or just think about depositing it? 

And how many times have I gone to the back of the house to get something only to forget what I went there to get? 

I see you nodding your head, because, if you’re busy and over 40, you’ve done the same things. We’re overextended and trying to do too many things at once. 

And it’s not a new problem. My grandmother used to say, “I’d forget my head if it wasn’t sewn on.” I know the feeling. 

In an article titled “10 Early Signs of Alzheimers,” The Alzheimer’s Association states, “One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.” 

Thankfully, the other nine signs are not a regular part of my life . . . at least I don’t remember that they are. . . . 

I don’t have physical Alzheimer’s, but I am often plagued with SPIRITUAL Alzheimer’s. I suspect you might be, too. 

I forget how God saved me, and how he transforms me. 

I forget the thousand prayers God has answered. I forget how, for over 30 years, God has met my family’s needs. 

I forget how God provided scholarships, grants, and anonymous donors to provide for four college educations. 

I forget how God has protected my family in cars, planes, and trains. In the United States and out of the United States. On land, on sea, and in the air. 

I forget how God has been with us as we rejoiced at the birth of babies and wept at the death of saints. 

Spiritual Alzheimer’s—do you have it, too? 

People with physical Alzheimer’s are fearful and anxious. They question their caregivers and struggle with trust. They fail to seek help and often panic in uncertain situations. People with spiritual Alzheimer’s are also fearful and anxious. We question our Father and struggle to trust him. We fail to come to him for help and instead panic when new challenges enter our lives. 

Perhaps this is why, every year at Passover, for thousands of years, Jewish fathers have retold the story of God’s deliverance, care, and provision for the children of Israel. 

“Remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,” Moses reminded the Israelites. 

“You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out” (Deut. 7:18-19). 

“Remember well.”

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years” (8:2).

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

“He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ 

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant” (12-18). 

If you’re struggling with uncertainty and fear today, perhaps you’re suffering from spiritual Alzheimer’s. 

I have good news for you. 

There is a cure: Remember what the Lord your God has done for you. 

Would you like to remember well what the Lord has done for you? Why not begin by leaving a comment? Maybe your comment will help someone else remember.

Upcoming Event:

Praying with Power Women's Conference May 9, 2015

Hosted by Good Shepherd UM Parish in Brookville, PA

Session 1: Why Pray?

If God's going to do what God's going to do, why bother praying? Does it really work? The answer is YES, and this session will show you why.

Session 2: How to Pray

If you find yourself bored, distracted, or repetitive when you pray, you'll love creating your own personalized prayer journal.

Session 3: What to Pray

This session will show you how to discover God's dreams, desires, and power for your life.

Session 4: What Happens When We Pray

Is your spiritual life dull, dry, and lacking excitement? This session will show you how prayer can energize your faith and help you fall more in love with God.

For more information or to register, contact Lori Henderson (navymomkt@gmail.com) or Kathy Shaffer (flokat1990@gmail.com).

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