"Gratitude Remembers"

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.

-Charles Edward Jefferson

Many people are waiting to be thankful until they have something to be thankful for.  It is a flaw of fallen humanity.  We are always looking forward to what we want and always aware of what we don’t have.  For most of us, the glass is always half empty – at least.

What is our remedy?  It is given in Scripture.  We are to be “rememberers.”  God urges us to rehearse his past mercies intentionally and actively.  Whenever we begin to focus on what we are lacking, we are to redirect our focus to what we have been given.

The change in attitude that will result is remarkable.  Joy begins to resurface and faith gets stronger.

That is what Psalm 105 is all about.  It is a brief summary of history from the call to Abraham to the victories of David.  It reminded Israel’s worshipers that God began a great plan with his people and would certainly continue it.  It encouraged them to count the miracles he had done.

It helped them think of God as their Provider, Deliverer, Protector, Strength, Warrior, and more – just in case they had forgotten, as fallen human beings are prone to do. 

It stirred up a sense of destiny and a confidence in God’s ability to bring them through.  It created the context of true worship.

Don’t we need such reminders?  We easily forget God’s providence, salvation, and love.  We fear that he might not protect us this time, or that he might not hear our prayer this time, or that he might abandon his plan for us.  An intentional memory of his works will help us dispense with those lies.  It will cultivate all the things we need to believe in him and worship him again.

Remember God’s mercies and write them down.  Let your mind be saturated with the goodness of God, and you will be amazed at how the goodness of God becomes real!

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.   -Psalm 105:5

With much gratitude and love,

A long-time Oasis member