“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
(Psalm 103:2)
Forgetting is a natural part of life. On one hand, it’s good to forget offenses and past troubles, but on the other, forgetting can have many negative aspects. It’s quite common to experience memory lapses now and then—forgetting our keys, a password, where we left our phone, food in the oven, or even a bill to pay. It’s annoying, but who hasn’t been there?
Beyond these normal and even “healthy” forgettings (since we have a selective memory that stores important things and discards the secondary), there’s another type of forgetting that is much more serious: forgetting truly important matters. Unfortunately, due to illness, lack of attention, stress, or distractions, the consequences of this kind of forgetfulness can be severe, even fatal in some cases—like forgetting children in a car or failing to honor commitments. In both cases, it’s necessary to exercise the mind, stimulating memory so that we don’t “erase” the important things.
In today’s verse, the psalmist exhorts his own soul to praise the Lord and not forget His blessings. This is an exercise we all need to practice: encouraging our minds and hearts not to forget God.
Do Not Forget God or His Infinite Blessings
Stimulate your mind to think about God throughout the day. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude for all the blessings you’ve received. Treat them as significant and precious.
Create visual reminders. Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer to remember that God had helped the people up to that point (1 Samuel 7:12). Write, mark, and encourage your mind to remember.
Pray and give thanks for all the good God has done for you.
Keep a journal or planner to record prayer requests and answers. Over time, you’ll be able to look back and see how much God has cared for you.
Count your blessings! Make a list of God’s blessings in your life, place it in visible spots (on your mirror, fridge door, or work desk), and share it with those around you.
For Prayer:
Lord my God and loving Father, thank You so much for all the blessings You’ve given me. Teach me to recognize Your goodness and mercy every day. In the smallest details—from the air I breathe to the gift of salvation through Jesus—I know You always care for me. Help me never to forget any of Your blessings. I praise and glorify You for them all. In Jesus’ name, amen.