These 8 Daily Reminders have been great for me. I have them at the end of my daily prayer list. Each one reinforces key Biblical truths that are important to me. Reminders are very effective because it is so easy to forget! 

You can use these 8 Daily Reminders in normal and tough times, but they are especially helpful in tough times. Why? Because Satan uses tough times to drive a wedge between God and you when you are vulnerable to doubts and fears. In the tough times Satan doubles his efforts with his only strategy - "Did God really say...?

But, the massive benefit of tough times is the opportunity to strengthen your faith and see how perfect and excellent God is.

These reminders help me walk with the Lord. Hopefully, they will help you also, but I encourage you to create your own.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:4-9

1. Hear and do God's Word and do not fear - especially loss and death

This first of the 8 Daily Reminders is critical for me because it reminds me of the danger of dependence upon myself. My temperament wants to understand something before I do it. Of course, that makes total sense from the human perspective, especially since we have limited understanding about maybe everything.

But that isn't true of God. He knows and understands everything. Secondly, God built this entire world system on the foundation of faith. And, you either believe that God is completely trustworthy or He isn't.

You will never "Hear then Do" if you do not believe that God is entirely trustworthy, just, loving, merciful, and cares for you more than you can imagine.

That is why I use the word PERFECT when I speak about God. To me, PERFECT embodies all of His outstanding attributes in one word. Since He is PERFECT, He never asks us to do something that isn't the best thing for us to do. That means I do not need to understand, but simply to hear then do!

Finally, when we do not fear loss, that clearly demonstrates that we trust in a PERFECT God. When we trust a PERFECT God, that is what drives out fear! (1 John 4:18)

2. I will never miss what's BEST for me when I simply obey God's Word

One great benefit of trusting a PERFECT Father God is that He is always doing the right thing, the best thing, and ultimately, what is BEST for me.

This daily reminder is especially useful when I experience life, circumstances, and people that are difficult—from the human perspective. But when I remind myself and know from God's Word that He works for my best, it reduces, even removes, any desire to have a pity party. 

Every example and story in the Bible about people who ended well—the best example is Jesus—had difficulties during their lives. Many of those doubted and complained about their circumstances, but ultimately, they realized God's perfection was working for them, not against them.

3. Faith...

• …obeys completely - ALL of God's Word
• …surrenders joyfully, the best to God
• …waits patiently for God to provide all needs

The entire world system that God created has a foundation of faith. Of the 8 daily reminders, this one hits me the hardest. All of God's Word? Surrenders joyfully? Waits patiently—really? 

Notice the tie back to the first of the daily reminders. Faith is only as good as the object of the faith. You can have faith in a broken chair to hold you when you sit down, but then it breaks. The problem wasn't your faith; it was what you had faith in!

Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) and impacts everything you do. As stated above, we know so little and inevitably must make decisions based on less-than-complete knowledge. That requires faith.

Even if you do not believe in God, faith is still required. You have faith that what you are doing and who you are believing is the best way.

4. God is PERFECT...

• The PERFECT Creator, the PERFECT Master, and the PERFECT Father
• I am only His creation, servant, and child

This was adapted from Jim Berg's book Changed Into His Image. Another thought we created from his material is "Belief about God drives belief about ME drives belief about life drives transformation."

Notice how this establishes how different we are from God. The idea is to elevate God and relate to Him properly. Yes, we are His beloved children adopted by His fantastic grace into His family. That means our status is elevated, but not to God's level.

This fourth of the 8 daily reminders is important for arrogant people like me. 

5. The purpose of prayer is to realign my mind to depend on and relate to my PERFECT Father God, not get answers

It is so easy to use prayer as a child uses Santa's letter at Christmas. Worse yet, we think and act like God is a cosmic vending machine. I insert my prayer coin and expect to get what I want when I want it.

Prayer is a time to talk with and relate to our PERFECT Father. It is a time to know that we are in the presence of the creator of the universe. What's lovely and extraordinary is that He wants to spend time with us. Unfortunately, we think we have more important things to do than talk with the creator of the universe!

It's time to change our minds about prayer. Yes, He will give us what is best for us. And He gave us the freedom to ask for things that are wrong for us. Our time in prayer and our relationship improves when we desire what He desires (Psalm 37:4-5).

6. Can I choose depravity? Am I redeemed? Am I thankful? Am I available? Am I content?

This was the first reminder I had that turned into the 8 daily reminders, which has changed slightly over time. The essential items are still there. Some people wonder why I start with the first question about depravity. It is because I am arrogant and need to remind myself of the presence of the sin nature that hangs around to distract me from what is best for me.

But, praise God, I am redeemed. Now that I can rejoice in that, will I be thankful, available, and content today? All three of those last questions have had a major impact on changing my heart and my life, especially the thankful and available questions. Content is a recent addition because of my continued study of it.

Being thankful and available works directly against my sin nature. It is much easier to complain and fret when people take your time for things that weren't in your plan for the day. But they are in God's plan for me that day, so it is best when I start the day and remember that I am one tool in God's toolbox. Will I be available when He wants to use me?

7. Stop and sense the presence of God and remember the power of Jesus name

It is very easy for me to get tied up in daily activities and problems and then try to work through each of them on my own. It has been a blessing to slow down and remember that my PERFECT Father God is right here with me and ready to provide His unlimited wisdom to anything in my life.

And when I stop and sense His presence—without hurry—sometimes, the sense of peace and security that He provides me is overwhelming.

I use no formula or steps—nothing more than stopping and focusing on the reality that God is with me, loves and cares for me, protects me, and works for my best, even in my current situation.

Right in line with sensing His presence is remembering the power of Jesus' name. When we pray in Jesus' name, that is not a formula or trick; it means we pray as Jesus would and ask for what He would. Invoking the name of Jesus involves complete trust in who He is and what He does. He is holding the entire creation—the universe—together by the power of His word! 

I do not know how powerful Jesus' name is, but I know that the more I remember His name, the more I open my mind to the power of His presence in me and all that I do.

8. Worry is not only unnecessary but also disrespectful and disobedient to my PERFECT Father God

This reminder is important to test your belief in God's Word (Phil. 4:4-6) and whether you believe God is PERFECT. Unfortunately, even when we read Philippians 4, we still worry about what is happening, demonstrating our complete disregard for His Word.

What a powerful reminder to meditate on.

I would love to hear any daily reminders you find helpful.