Lord, May I Never Forget What You Have Done for Me

This Thanksgiving, I keep coming back to Psalm 103.

While reading it in the New Living Translation, the call to praise the Lord with all that I am and remember His goodness stayed with me. I need that reminder. Sometimes I am so occupied with the next responsibility, the next concern, and the next prayer that I do not stop to remember the prayers He has already answered. But when I look back over the last seven or eight months, I have so much to thank Him for. There were difficult seasons. There was uncertainty. There were things we did not know how to manage and through all of it, He has been faithful. Lord, may I never forget what You have done for me.

First, You Have Forgiven My Sins

When I begin counting His blessings, this must come first. God has forgiven my sins. How? Through Jesus Christ. I cannot make my record clean by pointing to the good things I have done. I cannot undo my past. I cannot earn my place before a holy God. But Jesus gave His life for me.

He died for our sins and rose again. Through faith in Him, I receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God. That is the greatest reason for my thanksgiving. Before I thank Him for a job, a car, or any other provision, I want to thank Him for saving me.

Lord, You have given me mercy I could never earn.

You Have Given Me Yourself

God’s goodness reaches much further than the things I can see around me. Through Christ, I belong to Him. He has given His Holy Spirit to those who believe. Ephesians 1:13–14 speaks of believers being sealed with the Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance. I am not left to live the Christian life through my own strength. I can come to God in prayer. I can learn from His Word. I can ask for help when I am weak and correction when I am wrong. Through Jesus, I am accepted before God. My standing with Him rests in Christ’s righteousness, not in a record of perfect performance. What a gift that is. I want to remember the Giver whenever I give thanks for His gifts. Lord, thank You that I belong to You. Thank You for Your presence in my life.

You Have Given Me a Hope Beyond This Life

The blessings I receive here are precious, but they are temporary. Jobs can change. Possessions can wear out. Health can weaken. Life itself is brief. But Jesus has given me a hope that reaches beyond all of those things.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1 Peter 1:3 KJV

Because He rose again, death will not have the final word over those who belong to Him. There is an inheritance kept for us in heaven. I can thank Him for today’s provision while remembering the eternal future He has promised. My deepest hope is secure in Jesus.

You Carried Us When We Did Not Know What Would Come Next

I also want to remember how He has cared for our family in everyday life. There was a season when both my wife and I lost our jobs. That brought real uncertainty. We still had responsibilities. We still needed provision. We did not know how everything would work out. But God provided through various means. Unexpected people poured into our lives. Help came through people we had not anticipated. When I look back now, I can see so many moments of care. I want to thank God, and I want to remember the people through whom that care came. Lord, thank You for those who noticed our needs and chose to help us.

You Heard Our Prayers About Work

We prayed about our jobs. My wife had been laid off while on maternity leave. Now she has been recalled, with her return to work to follow her leave. God has also given me a wonderful job associated with His ministry. I am doing work I enjoy. I can use what I have studied and continue learning. I have an opportunity to contribute to work that serves His kingdom. That means so much to me. I can see answers to prayers that once came from a place of uncertainty. But I also want gratitude to shape how I work. Lord, help me serve faithfully. Help me be honest, dependable, and willing to learn. Let me use what You have entrusted to me well.

Thank You for the opportunity to work and for work through which I can serve You.

There Are So Many Other Things to Remember

When I think about our cars, our daily needs, and the ways we have been carried through these months, I see so much to be grateful for. Some answers were big. Others came through ordinary moments. It is easy to overlook those ordinary provisions. A need was met. Someone helped. A way forward became possible. I do not want to become so accustomed to receiving that I forget to give thanks and I want our children to hear these stories. I want them to know that we prayed, that people helped us, and that we have reasons to thank the Lord.

I Can Thank Him Even While Life Is Difficult

As I share this, I know there are faithful people still waiting for work, healing, or relief. I do not want my testimony to make someone feel that their hardship means they have less faith. Following Jesus does not guarantee wealth, comfort, or an easy life. There were unanswered questions in the middle of our own difficult season too. God was worthy of our trust then, before we could see how these particular needs would be met. I am grateful for the doors He has opened. I also want to keep trusting Him when an answer takes longer than I hoped, or comes differently from what I asked. The cross has already shown me His love. His resurrection has already given me hope. I can bring Him my needs without making His goodness depend on getting everything I want.

Let My Thanksgiving Become a Way of Living

This Thanksgiving, I want to do more than remember His goodness for one day. I want to live gratefully. That means thanking the people who helped us. Serving faithfully at work. Being generous when I have an opportunity. Speaking about His goodness at home. It also means remembering His mercy when I am tempted to complain. I still have needs. I still have prayers. But I have received so much already. Forgiveness through Jesus. His Spirit. His Word. Eternal hope. Care for our family. Help through unexpected people. Opportunities to work and serve.

Lord, may I never forget what You have done for me. Let all that I am praise You.

Reflection

What has God done for me that I have become too busy to remember? Am I giving thanks for forgiveness, His presence, and eternal hope as well as practical provision? Who helped me through a difficult season, and how can I thank them or show that same care to someone else?

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your goodness. Before I thank You for anything else, thank You for Jesus Christ. Thank You for forgiving my sins, bringing me near, and giving me a living hope through His resurrection. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit and for teaching me through Your Word. Thank You for carrying our family through these difficult months. You know the uncertainty we faced when we lost our jobs. Thank You for the people who poured into our lives. Thank You for practical provision, answered prayers, and opportunities to work. Help us use these gifts faithfully. Let our work, our home, and our decisions honour You. Keep me from measuring Your love only by comfortable circumstances. Teach me to trust You when I am still waiting. Help me remember those who are struggling today. Make me willing to listen, give, and serve. Let my children hear of Your goodness and come to know You for themselves. Lord, may I never forget what You have done for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.