Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits.

(Psalm 103:2)

Forgetting is part of our lives. If on the one hand it is good for us to forget past offenses and problems, on the other hand, there are many negative aspects to forgetfulness. It is quite natural for us to have lapses of memory from time to time, forgetting our keys, a password, where we put our cell phone, a meal in the oven, or a bill to pay.... It's a bummer, but who hasn't had it happen to them?

But in addition to these healthy and "normal" forgetfulness (because we have a selective memory that stores important things and discards secondary things), there is another type that is much more serious: forgetting very important things. Unfortunately, due to illness, lack of attention, stress and distractions, the consequences of this type of forgetfulness are much more serious and can even be fatal in some cases (forgetting children in the car, commitments, etc.). In both cases it is necessary to exercise the mind by stimulating the memory so as not to "turn off" the important things.

In today's verse, the psalmist exhorts his own soul to bless and not to forget the Lord and his blessings. It is an exercise we should all do: to encourage our mind and heart not to forget God.

Don't forget God and his infinite blessings.

• Stimulate your mind to think of God during the day. Have an attitude of gratitude for all the blessings you have received and consider them as important.
• Create visual frames. Samuel erected a stone and called it Ebenezer to remember that God had helped the people there (1 Samuel 7:12). Note, mark, encourage your mind to remember.
• Pray and be thankful for all the good God has done for you.
• Write down prayer requests and answers in a journal or diary. As time goes by you will be able to review those memories and see how much God has taken care of you.
• Count the blessings! Make a list of God's blessings in your life, post it in visible places (the mirror, the refrigerator door, your desk at work) and share it with those around you.

To pray:
Lord my God and beloved Father, thank you so much for all the blessings granted. Teach me to recognize your goodness and mercy every day. In the smallest details, from the air I breathe to the grace of salvation in Jesus, I know that you care for me always. Help me not to forget any of your blessings. I praise and glorify you for them all, in Jesus' name, amen.