The Benefits of God
Don’t Forget All Your Benefits
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
Psalm 103
Here’s the abridged shortlist… The heater and the fireplace both died the week we were expecting 12 overnight guests. The gutters and concrete and roof and probably the whole entire barn need replaced. The girls and I have had loads of medical stuff going on too…
I share the shortlist only to give you context for what I’m about to say.
When the toilet flushed, I thanked God.
And it caused me to realize just how many good things the Lord does every day. Things that maybe I forget and take for granted just because they actually work smoothly. I want to remember more often than I do.
And it reminded of things that usually are way in the back burner of my mind and suddenly I needed to remember… all my benefits. Home insurance benefits helped with the roof at least. Health insurance helped with a good chunk of the medical bills. And God’s love overwhelmed a multitude of wrongs done against me.
Forget NOT all God’s benefits. Because we need them.
Crisis Gives us Clarity
- When we’ve experienced loss of a loved one, suddenly we sing songs about the Resurrection with more gratitude.
- When we walk through sorrow, suddenly the suffering of the Cross becomes a strange comfort.
- When we face financial and health and relational trials, suddenly we see how much we had and still have to be grateful for.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:2-5
Remember the Benefits of God
Actually Remember
- It’s easy to forget just how much goodness is all around us. Trees, water, the air we breath. Naming these things will bring you life. Remembering fights against any taking for granted.
Remember You Aren’t Entitled
- Everything is grace. Every good and perfect gift is from God and is grace. None of it is earned. It’s all freely given. So let’s check our hearts when we get frustrated, resentful, unforgiving… because all of this is a gift.
Remember to Thank Him
- When we remember, actually remember all the benefits of God, a smile usually comes across our faces. And a thank you and a praise usually falls off our lips. Make this a practice… that when you notice something good, like the toilet actually flushed, thank Him. And see if your heart doesn’t soften even in the face of the storm.
A Prayer to Pray When You Can’t Find the Words
Dear Lord,
You are loving and kind and you care for us more than we know and when it doesn’t feel like it too. Father, stir in our hearts and remind us of all your benefits. Stir in our hearts an awareness and gratitude for your loving kindness and provision. We love you Lord.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name, amen
Until next time…
May Peace Himself hold you & hold you together. Toodles!
Read more about Danita Jenae here
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