Do You Remember?

I was meditating on Psalm 103 today, and had a revelation I have had before but had forgotten oddly enough.  David, as he often does, starts off this psalm in an attitude of praise and honor saying, "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name."  I think it is always important for us to start any time of prayer and worship with our acknowledgement of God's holiness and our desire to honor Him.  It is what he does next, though, that is really powerful.  In verse 2 he says, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-".  Then David goes on to list all the ways the Lord has been faithful and blessed him- forgave all his sins, heals all his diseases, redeemed his life from the pit, crowned him with love and compassion, satisfies his desires with good things, renews his youth, and on and on verse after verse David REMINDS himself of the Lords faithfulness in his life!  I call this encouraging yourself in the Lord.

I know that life can be tough.  That it can hit hard and fast.  I know it is easy to get overwhelmed by our circumstances.  But when life hits hard, the best and most effective way to hit back is with an attitude of gratitude!  How can we have an attitude of gratitude in the midst of our desperate situation?  We absolutely must remind ourselves of God's faithfulness!  Last year, my wife, Jennifer, and I realized our need to remember the miracles, blessings, and opportunities God has given us.  So, we stole an idea from our mentors, Sheri and Tracy Yates, and started a Book of Miracles.  It is a journal where we record all that God has done in our lives- healings, financial blessings, answered prayers, etc.  Why?  So we can remind ourselves of God's faithfulness.  As a matter of fact, I probably need to remind myself today.  Do you remember God's faithfulness in your life???