(Deu 8:11) "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today.
Do you ever forget things? You forgot where you put your car keys, so you can’t go anywhere. You forgot your wallet or purse, so you can’t buy anything. You forgot where you parked your car amidst the sea of vehicles and now you feel like an idiot! Maybe you forgot an appointment or a birthday and you feel awful about letting the person down. It could be you were asked to do something but somehow that something escaped your mind. We can try to minimize our forgetfulness by calling it a “brain-leak” or a “senior moment” but underneath the humor we tell ourselves we should be more organized, maybe write things down, or have some kind of reminder system.
The Lord knew Israel would have a short memory. God said he would bless His people and they would have abundance in the Promised Land. But in their prosperity, they were not to forget the Lord who brought them so graciously and powerfully out of Egypt to enjoy His blessings. Three times in Deuteronomy 8 the Lord warns them to not forget. It’s a reminder we all need from time to time.
David wanted to be mindful of God’s blessings. So, he wrote himself a mental note. He told himself to remember the goodness of the Lord and to even itemize His blessings:
(Psa 103:1-5) Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Take a little time each day to thank the Lord for all He has done for you. As you do you’ll find you have a lot to be grateful for. God’s been good. Yeah, you still have problems, but the blessings always outweigh the bummers. Start your prayers with thanksgiving (Psa 100:4). Begin with the general and then the specific and you’ll find that you will petition less and praise more. Here are some categories of thanksgiving as you itemize like David: Your salvation, your health, your family, friends, your church family, your country and freedoms, your job, God’s provision, opportunities and privileges you’ve had, deliverance from trials, and the list goes on. And remember . . . if you got it the Lord brought it!: (James 1:17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights . . .
Others have sacrificed that you might have the benefits you have. Don’t forget about them either! (John 15:13) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Louie