Wow. Go back and read that one more time, more slowly and carefully! The Israelites were moving into a land where they would enjoy cities they did not build, houses filled with good things they did not provide, wells they did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. How incredible is our God! Every good thing in our lives comes directly from Him. Do we thank Him enough? I maybe do okay with remembering to thank God when a bigger, unexpected blessing comes my way. But what about the ways He provides for me daily? Do I thank Him often enough for the simple, basic blessings in my life? Definitely not. 

I’m not trying to rewrite Scripture in any way, but I did rewrite a portion of this passage to apply to me personally. It says: 

When you come to the end of a day—a day with a job you did not find, a home you did not attain, a stocked fridge you did not fill, a car you did not secure, and relationships you did not create—then when you think back on your day with satisfaction, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who has provided every single good thing for you. 

Those are the basics for me, and maybe for you, too? A job, a home, a car, food to eat, beautiful relationships to enjoy… God has provided them all! Did I put down the money for the downpayment on my house? Yes. Did I fill out the application and nail the interview for my job? Yes. Do I take great care to maintain and mature the relationships in my life? Yes. I’m not saying everything has just appeared magically with the wave of a wand and a sprinkle of fairy dust from Heaven. But God has set wheels in motion, moved things into place, and provided every good thing in our lives. Literally, every single good thing. He is working behind the scenes as the director and producer of your life’s epic movie. Have you forgotten that? 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

Take a minute, and write your own version of the passage from Deuteronomy 6! Mine is specific to me. Write one that’s specific to you! Include things you know you’re likely to take for granted. Or include things that are examples of God’s abundance that you want to make sure you don’t forget about. Are you out of a job right now? Is your refrigerator a little more bare than you’d prefer? Trust God’s provision for the future, and be intentional about thanking Him for what you do have. 

An attitude of gratitude will help get rid of any arrogance, self-reliance or sense of entitlement that may be threatening to creep in. In remembering to thank God for His goodness, we are also remembering that we are nothing without Him. Gratitude humbles us. It reminds us that we are in a position to be thankful—not a position to pat ourselves on the back for putting all of the good things into place in our lives. Just as Moses reminded the Israelites not to forget the Lord, let us also not forget to thank God for His daily provisions of both big and small things. Let’s thank Him for the special and the mundane, for the unique and the ordinary. Thank you, Lord!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. -Psalm 100:4