February 27: Don't Forget His Benefits

It’s easy to list everything still wrong. It takes effort to list what’s gone right.

David talks to his own soul again. Praise the Lord, my soul, and don’t forget all His benefits. Then he lists them. He forgives. He heals. He redeems your life from the pit. He crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. He satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Don’t forget. That implies we’re likely to. And we are.

The mind in early recovery tends to focus on problems. That’s partly survival. There are real problems to deal with. But if you only ever look at what’s broken, you’ll miss the evidence that something is being restored. And without that evidence, it’s hard to keep believing.

Gratitude is a practice, not a feeling. Many people in recovery keep a gratitude list. Every night they write down a few things they’re thankful for. At first it feels forced. You write “I’m sober today” and “I have a bed” and not much else. But over weeks, the lists get longer and more specific. You start noticing things during the day so you can write them down later. Your eyes adjust.

Look at David’s list again with your own life in mind. Has God forgiven you? Has He begun healing your body, your mind, your relationships? Has He pulled you out of a pit? Have there been moments of kindness and mercy you didn’t deserve? Has anything good satisfied you lately, something that wasn’t a drink?

Those are the benefits. Each one is a small proof of Step Two. A Power greater than you is already restoring you. Gratitude is how you see it.

This doesn’t mean pretending things are fine when they’re not. David wrote plenty of psalms of complaint too. But even in hard seasons, there’s something to thank God for. Finding it changes the day.

One thing today

Tonight, write down five specific things you’re grateful for from today. Not general ones. Specific. Do it again tomorrow night.

A prayer

Lord, I’m quick to forget what You’ve done. Thank You for forgiving, healing and pulling me out of the pit. Help me notice Your goodness and not forget it.

Gratitude feeds the hope of Step Two.

Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free

Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+

After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).