April 28: Forget Not His Benefits

After weeks of looking at what went wrong, you might need a day of remembering what God has done right.

David speaks to himself here. Bless the Lord, my soul, and don’t forget all His benefits. He had to remind himself. That’s not a sign of weak faith. It’s how people are. Hard things crowd out good memories unless you deliberately go back for them.

Then David makes a list. God forgives all your sins. He heals your diseases. He redeems your life from the pit. He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

Redeemed from the pit. If you’ve been in recovery for any length of time, you probably know what that means in a way most people don’t. There was a pit. You were in it. And now, today, you’re not.

An honest inventory has room for gratitude. In recovery, people sometimes call this looking at your assets. Not to cancel out the hard truths, but to see the whole picture.

So today, set aside the columns and make a different list. What has God done for you since you started recovery? Mornings without a hangover. A relationship that’s starting to heal. A job you’ve kept. A meeting where you felt at home. A friend who answered at midnight. The fact that you can sit with your own history and not run.

Write those down. Read them back. Let your soul hear them.

Gratitude doesn’t erase pain. But it changes the air you breathe while you carry it. And it’s hard to feel sorry for yourself and grateful at the same time.

Tomorrow you’ll go back to the inventory. Today, remember.

If it’s hard to think of anything, start small. You woke up. You had something to eat. You’re reading this. Someone in your life still answers your calls. Small mercies count. Often the big ones are made of small ones stacked together.

One thing today

Write a list of at least ten good things God has done for you since recovery began. Read it out loud. Thank Him for each one.

A prayer

Lord, I don’t want to forget what You’ve done. You lifted me out of the pit. You forgave me. You crown me with mercy I didn’t earn. Thank You. Help me remember. Amen.

Gratitude belongs in Step Four too.

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