Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits…. Psalm 103;2

I have a bad habit of remembering the wrong things. I seem to have a good memory for stuff that bothers me. The more I want to let it go, the more I replay the story in my mind. No matter who you are, you have to learn to let go, forgive and to focus on the positive things in life.

If you have ever tried to forget a painful remark or an insult, you know what I’m talking about. At that point, you can either hold a grudge or you can forgive. One sets you free, the other gives root to bitterness and anger.

With a new year upon us, you and I can decide to develop a new spiritual practice that has to do with remembering things in the right way. When we remember things, we don’t ignore the pain, but instead we acknowledge it and learn from it, ask for help, if needed, then forgive and move on.

Although the challenges of life are always with us, celebrating the good memories and how God has brought you this far, is the beginning of a life worth living. While spirituality is often used as a buzz word, it means nothing if it does not make a difference in real life. Too many of us forget that spirituality that impacts others takes time to develop.

As a way of growing in this area, consider taking two minutes right now to stop and remember a time when you could sense God’s peace in your life? Maybe you need to take five minutes and make a list the things you have been given that most people around the world will never experience.

Remember, the painful memories we cannot seem to forget often take root because we ignore the important habit of remembering the benefits of loving God and living life focused on His blessings in our lives.