He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known. Deuteronomy 8:15-16 (NIV)
Think of what God has done for you. Choose to call it to mind. Look back and recollect the goodness of God:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Recalling God’s blessings will have a humbling effect on your soul. See how God has given you life and preserved your life. God has given you gifts and talents, and He has blessed you with freedom. He has prospered you.
Don’t spend your time looking at what He did for somebody else. Look at what He has done for you. Choose to bring it to mind. It is usually easier to see what He has done in someone else’s life, so you will have to apply some effort to see what He has done in your life.
“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thes. 5:18). If you can see a thousand things that God has done for you, then when the one thing you cannot understand does happen, you will have an entirely different perspective from the person who has never cultivated the art of thanksgiving.
Take time to do this now. Make a list in your mind or on paper. Spend some time reflecting on the goodness of God as you look back over your life, and then give Him thanks.
