Deuteronomy 8:10–18
When Moses addressed the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8, he was preparing them for a new chapter of life—a land overflowing with abundance and promise. Yet, even as he spoke of blessings, he offered a caution: “When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them… do not forget the Lord your God.” (vs. 12, 14)
Moses reminds us that gratitude is not a fleeting emotion but a spiritual discipline—a daily decision to remember the source of our blessings.
We often associate gratitude with favorable circumstances, but biblical gratitude goes deeper. It is an intentional turning of the heart toward God, the giver of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). Gratitude is a posture of remembrance, a refusal to forget who sends the rain, ripens the harvest, strengthens our hands, and fills our lungs with breath. It is, at its core, a recognition that God sustains it all.
When life is full—when the bank account balances, the pantry overflows, and opportunities seem endless—it becomes easy to think, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me” (v. 17). But Deuteronomy 8 calls us to resist that illusion. Gratitude is not merely polite—it is an act of humility and faith. It acknowledges that all we possess belongs first to God, and that we are stewards, not owners, of what has been entrusted to us.
Recognizing that our blessings come from God frees us to live generously. Gratitude transforms giving from obligation into joy, from duty into delight. It shapes how we use our time, our talents, and our treasure—not to gain more for ourselves, but to serve God’s purposes in the world. As Pastor Kevin reminded us last week, God desires a relationship with us. Whatever we return to God as we continually build the Kindom is itself an act of gratitude.
Choosing gratitude each day keeps our hearts open and our spirits aligned with God’s grace. It reminds us that abundance is not measured by possessions, but by our awareness of life as a gift.
Author David Viscott offers a beautiful reflection on gratitude and purpose:
The purpose of life is to discover your gift.
The work of life is to develop it.
The meaning of life is to give your gift away.
–Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations
In every season—whether of plenty or of want—gratitude anchors us in God’s goodness. It is more than a feeling; it is a way of life and a declaration of trust in the One who provides all things.
Pastor Todd