But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. — Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. — Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV
Reflection
This message from Moses is an essential one, as we are about to begin the month that is traditionally linked with expressing thanks. When things are going well, we can easily fail to remember to express gratitude. When we are in a bind, it is simple for us to complain to God and ask for his assistance; nevertheless, when good things occur in our lives, we frequently believe that we “deserve” them.
God reminds us that all we have is merely a testimony of his grace and his fidelity to do what he has declared. This is the message that God conveys to us in the Bible.
We have to keep in mind, both for ourselves and for one another, that the blessings we have are not a result of our own merit but rather come from the hand of God, and that we do not deserve them more than anybody else.
My Prayer
Kind and generous Father, please have mercy on me for my oversight. Even though I know in my heart that I do not merit all the blessings that you have showered upon my life, there are times when I delude myself into believing that I have merited them. To have a heart like Jesus, who did deserve everything good but still gave it all up to come to earth and offer me the greatest gift possible — the gift of your salvation — use your Spirit to form a heart in me that is like his.
I am indebted to you in innumerable ways for the numerous unmerited favors, including this act of grace, which you have bestowed upon me. In the name of Jesus, I am grateful to you. Amen.