October 16: Counting What Went Right

When was the last time your inventory had anything good in it?

A lot of people treat personal inventory like a list of charges. What did I do wrong? Who did I hurt? Where did I fail? Those are fair questions. But if they’re the only ones you ask, the picture you get is false. It’s like a bank statement that only shows money going out.

An honest inventory counts everything. That includes the good.

Today you got out of bed. Maybe you didn’t want to. You did anyway. You stayed sober, which on some days is a bigger thing than anyone around you knows. Maybe you held your tongue once when it would have been easy to snap. Maybe you made a call, read a page, said a prayer, went to a meeting. Maybe you paid a bill on time. Maybe you were just kind to the cashier.

Those things count. They are not small to God.

David talks to his own soul in this psalm. Bless the Lord, and don’t forget all His benefits. He’s preaching to himself, because he knows how easy it is to forget. People in recovery forget fast. One bad hour can wipe out the memory of a good week. A craving can make you feel like nothing has changed, when almost everything has.

Writing down what went right is not bragging. It’s remembering. And remembering is a spiritual practice. Again and again in the Bible, God tells His people to remember what He’s done, because forgetting leads to fear and grumbling, and remembering leads to trust.

There’s a practical side too. When you see the good on paper, you can see what’s working. Maybe you notice the days you call someone are the days you’re calmest. Maybe the mornings you pray go better. That’s useful. That’s information you can build on.

So tonight, when you do your review, flip the order. Start with the wins. Then look at what needs fixing. You’ll find you can face the hard parts better from a place of gratitude than from a place of dread.

One thing today

Write down five things that went right today, no matter how small. Read the list back, and thank God for each one by name.

A prayer

Lord, I forget so quickly what You’ve done. Thank You for this day, for every sober hour, and for the small good things I usually overlook. Teach my soul to remember. Amen.

Gratitude belongs in Step Ten too.

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