We Have Forgotten How Important it is to Remember

The final book of the Bible, Book of Revelation, was completed around AD 95, nearly two thousand years ago. Yet Scripture’s relevance today is striking. One example: we are commanded to remember roughly 170 times.

Why? Because remembering is essential to faith, and in many ways, we are forgetting how to do it well.

How many phone numbers do you have memorized? I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I know my wife’s number and not much else. I still remember my childhood landline, but not my children’s numbers. When I lived in Houston for three years, I depended so heavily on GPS that I rarely learned the roads. That dependence subtly limited my sense of belonging in that city.

The steady presence of screen-based technology is reshaping how we remember. In Scrolling Ourselves to Death, Brett McCracken calls it “digital dementia.” Jared Horvath writes in The Digital Delusion, “the secret to learning is recall.” If recall weakens, learning weakens with it.

I have felt the unsettling realization of not remembering something meaningful that I should remember. I know it’s the impact of my phone. That’s concerning for adults. It’s even more concerning for young minds still being formed.

Forgetfulness: A Subtle Spiritual Threat

I’m fairly detail-oriented. I rarely lose things because I habitually put them back in the same place. The clearest sign that I’m under unusual stress? I forget to put my car keys where they belong. It rarely happens—and when it does, it tells me something is off.

Martin Luther once observed that if the devil cannot make you sin, he will make you busy. And busyness often leads to forgetfulness. Charles Spurgeon noted that we fall into sin “because we forget Him.”

If constant distraction is undermining memory, how can we obey Scripture’s call to hide God’s Word in our hearts? When Jesus was tempted, He responded with memorized Scripture. We cannot recall what we have not stored. Forgetfulness is not morally neutral—it weakens spiritual resilience.

Not Anti-Technology, but Pro-Memory

This is not an argument against technology. And we do not operate in a posture of fear. Every generation must adapt to new tools. Socrates worried that writing would produce forgetfulness. Some religious leaders resisted the Gutenberg Printing Press. Ironically, writing strengthens memory, and the printing press fueled the Protestant Reformation by making Bibles widely accessible.

Fear is not the right response. Wisdom is.

We must learn how technology shapes us—and guide our children accordingly.

The Younger They Are, the More It Matters

Emerging research suggests that young students are especially sensitive to excessive screen exposure. That should prompt thoughtful action, not panic.

As your partner in Christian education, you can rely on us for two commitments:

  1. We will educate students through the lens of who they are—uniquely created in the image of God. A child is one of one.
  2. We will share practical insights to support learning at home. Research consistently affirms that the home environment is the single greatest influence on a child’s education.

With that in mind, here are seven simple, research-informed ways to strengthen memory at home.

Seven Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Child’s Memory

  1. Create distraction-free study spaces. Screens and studying should not share the same space.
  2. Use focused study intervals. Set a timer and work without interruption until it ends.
  3. Print when possible. Students consistently retain more when reading on paper rather than on screens.
  4. Study briefly and consistently. Ten minutes a night is more effective than one 60-minute cram session. Studying is a skill built
  5. Write things down. Handwritten notes deepen processing and improve recall.
  6. Use flash cards. The simple 3×5 card remains remarkably effective for strengthening retrieval.
  7. Change study locations. Quiz your student while walking or studying in different rooms. Learning is context-dependent; varying environments strengthens recall across settings.

A Final Word

At its core, remembering is not just an academic skill—it is a spiritual discipline. We remember who God is. We remember what He has done. We remember who we are in Him.

Our goal is not merely higher test scores or stronger transcripts. It is the formation of young men and women who possess sound minds, servant hearts, and skilled hands—students equipped to transform the world for God’s glory.

Let’s not forget that helping students remember what matters most is part of that sacred work.