Forgetfulness is the ultimate source of ingratitude. If you can always keep the goodness of God in your life in view, you will never be ungrateful. You will live the rest of your life in thanksgiving to God for being so good to you.
It is forgetfulness and lack of deep meditation that makes us think there are no reasons for us to be grateful to God. No matter how bad a situation is, there is always a reason to thank God but we often forget especially when we come under the pressure of the vicissitudes of life.
In addition, human nature, assisted by the enemy, is prone to focus on the negatives. We get so absorbed with what is not working that we forget what is. We fall into despair wondering why life has been so unfair to us.
If you persist in this state of ingratitude, you will soon develop a faulty view of God. A faulty view of God is what makes you say, ‘If God is good, why do I have to go through this’. With a faulty view of God, you will lose your faith and may fall into sin.
This is the strategy of the enemy; always painting God black before us because we are going through a temporary trial. You have the responsibility to make sure you keep in view the goodness of the Lord in your life, lest you forget and become ungrateful.
This was how Eve fell into sin. The enemy made her to forget God’s goodness. He made her see how God has been unfair; denying them access to the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. She forgot, at that moment, the many varieties of other fruits God had given them unlimited access. She probably became bitter against God and she reached out for the forbidden fruit.
It is also how the Israelites sinned against God. They kept on forgetting God’s blessings at every point of challenge.
Ten out of twelve spies had brought an evil report of the Promised Land so much so that their heart sank. They became exceedingly discouraged. They regretted following Moses and they began to plan to return to Egypt. Despite the plea of Caleb and Joshua, the people rebelled and grumbled against God.
But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?...” Numbers 14:10-11 NIV
God had done enough for them to know that possessing the Promised Land will not be a challenge. God plagued Egypt because of them. He parted the sea such that they walked on dry ground. God had to open a bakery in heaven and recruited angels to bake Manna for them daily. Mara was turned sweet. Water came out of the rock when they were thirsty amidst many more mighty miracles.
What more could God have done to assure them that the Promised Land was theirs? Nevertheless, under the pressure of a new challenge, they completely forgot what God had done for them; they failed to draw strength for the new challenge from the past victory. They became ungrateful so much so that God’s heart was grieved.
They did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. Psalms 78:10-11 NIV
It takes intentionality to live a life of gratitude. You must resolve never to forget what God has done and is doing in your life. This is why the Psalmist had to speak deliberately to his soul to remember the goodness of the Lord.
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:1-5 NIV
If you wait for the moment when you will feel like thanking God or expressing your gratitude, it may never come. You must learn to do it irrespective of how you feel. Gratitude should not always be a product of happenings but a responsibility irrespective of what we go through.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Psalms 34:1-2 NKJV
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17 -18 NKJV
Do not get so absorbed with your big dreams while neglecting the seemingly inconsequential favours you enjoy from God - the journey mercies, the protection, the provision, your healthy body and all the daily miracles of sleeping and waking, eating and drinking.
Sit down and count your blessings! Do not leave anything out. Think about all His goodness and mercies towards you in every way. He has done so much for you. Forget not all His benefits. Be grateful!
As you remember what God has done for you in the past, faith and hope will rise within you, empowering you to challenge and subdue your current obstacles.
May you receive grace to live above the spirit of ingratitude that now pervades our generation.
