“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2, ESV)
“Thank you so much for delivering these groceries! And have a happy New Year!” I said through my KN95 mask, hoping the young woman could hear me and see the smile in my eyes, even though my mouth and nose were covered.
Wow, the last day of 2021! I didn’t think I would spend it fighting the Covid -19 virus, isolating from others, and ordering groceries to be delivered. My husband and I planned to be on an airplane today, traveling to visit our friends in Texas for the new year. A disappointment to be sure, but we are truly thankful to be recovering and able to rest at home.
How are you approaching the end of the year?
Maybe you can’t wait to turn the calendar, glad to be done with this year, because it was not what you hoped for or expected. Or maybe you prefer to focus on the future, not wasting time thinking about the past.
Usually I lean toward the new year by setting goals and focusing on what is ahead. But in doing so, I may move forward without taking time to remember – specifically remembering what God has done in the past year.
Psalm 103, one of my favorite psalms, reminds me to “forget not” all of the benefits of knowing the Lord:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
(Psalm 103:2-5)
God designed our minds to remember. And He instructs us throughout the bible to remember- especially His work in the world and in our lives.
Thankfully, God also remembers us (and that we are made from dust)!
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those
who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103: 13-14)
What if we took the time to remember the benefits of God today?
I made a list in my prayer journal, going month by month of 2021, recalling the events of each month and asking the Holy Spirit to show me all the benefits of the Lord.
Times with family and friends. Times of great blessing and joy. Times of God’s provision in pain and the death of a loved one. Times of healing. Times of peace. Times of forgiveness. Times of God’s mercy. Times of God’s strength in weakness. Times of growth and change.
As we close out another calendar year, let us encourage one another to remember the blessings of God. Then we can move forward into 2022 with hope and faith in God- not in our circumstances!
Happy New Year Dear Loved Ones! Forget Not All His Benefits!