And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19 (KJV)
The Israelites were to teach their children about the ways of the Lord and what He had done for them. As a child of God, the life we live is our story. We should share our journey with others as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Track
The second step in our 5 STEPS for Success in 2025 is Track.
Webster defines Track as an awareness of a fact, progression, or condition. It also lists to keep track of something. Merriam-Webster
Tracking our blessings can be beneficial to our health. Recalling God’s past provisions will lift our spirits, give us hope, and grow our patience. Try it and see if you don’t feel better. Our testimonies of His goodness also benefit our families and churches.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 (KJV)
On the other hand, forgetting God’s blessings robs us of joy, hope, and peace as we fret over our problems. It also robs others of hearing the truth about God’s love.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (KJV)
Think about the last time a song ministered to you. More than likely, that song was a story of someone’s loss, heartache, or victory. The lyrics blessed you because the writer took the time to write and share their story. An untracked story is a lost story.
I am ashamed to say I have not written down every blessing. I often wonder about those I have forgotten. Could they have helped someone in their time of need? More importantly, have I treated the miracles of God as ordinary things?
What to Track
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites were called to remember the promises of God. Question: If the Creator of the Universe gives us an answer to prayer, a dream, or a lesson from our daily activity, why would we not want to write it down so we can remember and share it with others?
Here are a few suggestions we can track this year. You can add more if you like.
Family History
God’s promises to you and your family
Blessings received
Prayers answered
Ways to Track
Keep a journal
Notate a Bible to give to your children or grandchildren
Take study notes to pass down to someone
If you paint, draw, or write songs or poetry, tell the story behind it
Why Track
As a witness to the goodness of God
As a reminder of God’s faithfulness in times of hardship
But I’m not a writer, you may say. That’s fine. You don’t have to be a writer or understand all grammar rules. Keep a record for yourself and your family, or tell the storyteller in your family so they can write it in the genealogy records.
Okay, now that we’ve discussed the spiritual side of tracking, let’s talk about the physical side.
Something Happens When We Write.
Researchers suggest handwriting improves brain connectivity. Dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, is also released. If that’s true, why wouldn’t we want to spend several minutes a day with pen and paper? Especially when we tend to forget things as we age.
Our brains need the exercise.
Remember multiplications and musical scales? We practiced until it felt like our heads would explode. The truth is repetition builds bridges between synapses. Once that bridge is built, it’s hard to forget. Memories are what we have learned. They are also the way we retrieve that knowledge.
As we age, we lose memory if we don’t care for ourselves. We are often encouraged to learn a new language, play word games, or learn a new instrument. Why not add handwriting scripture and tracking blessings to that list?
With all that learning and exercise, researchers recommend we spend less time in front of our screens and limit our sugar intake. All are great ideas to increase knowledge and care for our brains.
Finally, going back to our main scripture. When the Israelites failed to recall God’s law and blessings, they became independent of Him and fell into idolatry. Today, we may not have golden idols in groves, but when we fail to acknowledge God, we look to ourselves for provision. And I daresay there are quite a few idols we can entertain in our hearts. Tracking our blessings, especially during a blessed season, keeps our hearts humble and our focus upward. Let’s track those blessings!
Happy tracking, beloved!
Your Turn
Do you track your blessings? Write scriptures? What would you add to the list to help recall the blessings of God and exercise your brain?
Articles to Read
What Excessive Screen Time Does to the Adult Brain – Stanford Center on Longevity
The Simple Act of Daily Writing Can Dramatically Improve Your Mental Health – Allison Fallon
The Power of the Pen: How Handwriting Enhances Brain Connectivity – Neurosceincenews.com
Why Writing by Hand is Better for Your Brain – Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. Psychology Today
Gail Johnson 