Yesterday we thought about the negatives of being too focused on the past. We shouldn’t let the past rule our future, but looking back at God’s goodness and provision can help us build our faith. It’s about finding a balance. While it’s important for us to let go of the things in our past that are holding us back, it’s also important to spend time remembering the good things that God’s done for us. When we remember His faithfulness to us in the past, we can feel encouraged to wait expectantly for His help in the struggles we’re facing right now. We also need to remember to thank God for the things He’s done for us. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one came back to thank Him. ‘One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”’ (Luke 17:15 NLT). Maybe the rest were too busy enjoying the freedom their healing brought, or maybe they were too proud to go back and thank Him. We don’t know. But we need to make sure that we’re taking the time to remember in gratitude what Jesus has done for us, rather than overlooking His goodness because we want to move on to the next thing in our lives. The psalmist wrote, ‘I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.’ We should never forget the love that God has for us, or the times He’s been faithful to us. Our relationships with others won’t last long if we only spend time with them when we need something. It’s important to show appreciation and remember the good. That’s what we need to do with our relationship with God too. 

What Now?

Write about a time when you experienced God’s faithfulness to you. Take some time to thank Him.