Thankful for the Benefits: Remembering God’s Goodness

Psalm 103 reminds us to bless the Lord with all that is within us, not just for what He has done, but for who He is. Gratitude is not simply an emotional response to favorable circumstances; it is a posture of the heart rooted in the unchanging goodness of God. Life has a way of making us remember our hurts more than our helps, our burdens more than our blessings. But David teaches us to become our own reminder, to call our souls to remember the benefits of God, even when our feelings or circumstances would have us forget.

Gratitude grows in remembrance, not in forgetfulness. The enemy doesn’t fight your praise as much as he fights your memory, because if you ever truly remember how good God has been, your praise becomes unstoppable. Before you complain, recall. Before you panic, remember. Before you give up, look back. Thankfulness is not based on how you feel, but on what you remember.

God’s benefits are better than any earthly package—they never expire, never decrease, and don’t depend on your performance. The first and greatest benefit is forgiveness. God forgives all your iniquities, not just the small or manageable ones, but every sin. Forgiveness is the access point to every other blessing. It’s not just about what God gives, but what He covers. He erases not only the sin, but the shame, the guilt, and the aftermath that could have defined you. Grace stamps your record “paid in full,” and mercy rewrites your story.

The next benefit is healing. God heals all your diseases—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Some wounds don’t bleed, and some pain is hidden, but God specializes in healing the places no one else can see. Survival means you made it through, but healing means the moment no longer has power over you. God will not let pain write the last chapter of your life; He is restoring, rebuilding, and making you whole.

Finally, there is the benefit of redemption and restoration. God doesn’t just pull you out of the pit; He crowns you with love and mercy, fills your life with good things, and repositions you for purpose. Your future is not defined by your failures, but by His favor. Grace doesn’t just rescue you; it opens doors and sets your feet in new places. When you remember these benefits, gratitude rises up, and you can’t help but bless the Lord.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Gratitude Grows in Remembrance, Not Forgetfulness Gratitude is not a natural byproduct of good circumstances, but a discipline of remembering God’s faithfulness. Our minds are quick to replay pain and overlook blessings, but when we intentionally recall God’s benefits, our hearts are stirred to genuine thankfulness. The enemy attacks our memory because a grateful believer is a powerful one. [14:41]
• 2. Forgiveness Is the Foundation of Every Blessing God’s forgiveness is not partial or conditional; it is total and complete. Without forgiveness, none of the other blessings would be accessible. It is not our perfection that qualifies us, but God’s grace that covers us. The miracle is not just in what God gives, but in what He covers and erases—our shame, guilt, and the consequences that could have defined us. [17:59]
• 3. God Heals What Others Cannot See Healing is not limited to the physical body; God heals emotional, mental, and spiritual wounds that are often hidden from others. Some of the deepest pain is invisible, but God specializes in restoring those broken places. True healing means the past no longer has power over you, and God is committed to making you whole, not just helping you survive. [22:08]
• 4. Redemption Leads to Restoration and Purpose God’s redemption doesn’t stop at rescue; it continues into restoration and purpose. He pulls us out of destruction and crowns us with love, filling our lives with good things. Grace repositions us, opening doors to a future we didn’t earn but God ordained. Our story is not defined by what we went through, but by the destiny God has written for us. [27:10]
• 5. God’s Benefits Are Eternal and Unchanging Unlike earthly benefits, God’s blessings never expire, decrease, or depend on our performance. They were purchased at Calvary and are secured by Christ’s resurrection. No matter what we face, we can be thankful because God’s benefits—His forgiveness, healing, redemption, and restoration—are always available to us. [31:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [05:52] - Reading Psalm 103
• [07:33] - Gratitude Is an Understanding
• [08:37] - Perspective Shifts Everything
• [09:18] - Thankful in Tight Places
• [10:05] - Thankful for the Benefits
• [11:05] - Remembering the Goodness of God
• [12:21] - Negativity vs. Remembrance
• [13:25] - David’s Call to Remember
• [15:23] - God’s Benefits Package
• [15:48] - The Benefit of Forgiveness
• [21:18] - The Benefit of Healing
• [26:25] - The Benefit of Redemption and Restoration
• [31:21] - God’s Benefits Are Eternal
• [36:05] - Thankful for His Benefits
• [38:13] - Altar Call and Prayer
• [44:11] - Closing and Announcements

1. According to Psalm 103, what are some of the specific “benefits” that David calls his soul to remember?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the first and greatest benefit God gives us? [15:48]
3. How does David respond to his own tendency to forget God’s blessings, according to the sermon? [13:25]
4. What does the pastor say about the difference between surviving pain and being healed from it? [24:19]

1. Why do you think David tells his own soul to “forget not all his benefits”? What does this say about human nature and memory? [13:25]
2. The sermon says, “Gratitude doesn’t grow in forgetfulness, gratitude grows in remembrance.” What does this mean for how we approach thankfulness in our daily lives? [14:01]
3. The pastor describes forgiveness as the “access point” to every other blessing. Why is forgiveness foundational to experiencing God’s other benefits? [17:59]
4. The sermon talks about God healing “places people can’t see.” What are some examples of these hidden wounds, and why is it important to recognize them? [22:08]

1. The pastor said, “Before you complain, recall. Before you panic, remember. Before you give up, look back.” What is one practical way you can remind yourself of God’s benefits when you’re facing a tough situation this week? [14:41]
2. Our minds are quick to replay pain and overlook blessings. Can you think of a recent time when you focused more on a problem than on God’s goodness? How could you have responded differently? [12:21]
3. Forgiveness is described as God erasing not just the sin, but also the shame and guilt. Is there an area in your life where you’re still carrying shame or guilt, even though you know God has forgiven you? What would it look like to let God’s grace “stamp your record paid in full”? [18:39]
4. The sermon says, “Some of the worst wounds don’t bleed.” Are there emotional or spiritual wounds in your life that you’ve tried to hide or ignore? What step could you take this week to invite God’s healing into those places? [22:08]
5. God’s redemption doesn’t just pull us out of the pit; it crowns us and fills our lives with good things. Where have you seen God not only rescue you, but also restore or reposition you for a new purpose? [27:10]
6. The pastor said, “Gratitude is not based on how I feel, it’s based on what I remember.” What is one specific “benefit” of God you want to intentionally remember and thank Him for this week, even if your feelings don’t line up? [14:41]
7. God’s benefits are described as never expiring, never decreasing, and not depending on your performance. How does this truth challenge the way you view God’s love and blessings, especially when you feel unworthy? [31:21]