“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18
Most people lean on God in the hard times. But what about when life is good? When prayers are answered, bills are paid, health is strong, and joy feels effortless? The truth is—we need God in the good times just as much as in the bad. But to live with a deep knowledge of this truth, we need to learn to understand what a fearful place it is to not be able to sense His presence.
The fear of the Lord can be described as “a holy dread of being without His presence.” Once you’ve tasted what it’s like to live daily in His nearness, you don’t want to go back to living without Him. His presence changes everything.
And here’s the surprising part: acknowledging God in the good times makes the good times even better.
When we forget Him in seasons of blessing, we are left with nothing more than temporary happiness and a false sense of security. But when we recognize that God Himself is the source of every good thing, His presence adds something no paycheck, vacation, or promotion can give—peace, joy, love, wisdom, gentleness, and strength.
The apostle Paul warned that when people knew God but failed to thank Him, their “foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). Isn’t that true of our culture today? Even in our abundance, unthankfulness is rampant. But as God’s children, we carry His light into the darkness, and gratitude is one of the ways we shine brightest.
Think about this: every blessing you have—every moment of joy, every measure of health, every relationship you treasure—is a gift. James reminds us, saying, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17
For me, one of the most powerful habits I’ve developed is to list the good things that happen each day as part of my prayer time. I write them down on my prayer list under “Thanksgiving,” and then I thank God specifically for each one. That simple act turns my attention from the gift to the Giver, and suddenly, the blessing becomes an opportunity for worship.
Gratitude doesn’t just protect our blessings—it multiplies them. As Paul wrote, “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15
So don’t miss the best part of the good times. Don’t just enjoy the gift—rejoice in the Giver. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has already “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
Challenge
Start a “good things” list in your prayer time. Each day, write down the blessings you notice—even small ones—and thank God for them one by one. You’ll be amazed at how this habit makes the good times even better, and how it deepens your awareness of His presence.
Prayer
Father, thank You for every blessing You’ve poured into my life—both the tangible and the invisible. Help me not to forget You in the good times, but to draw closer, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Teach me to faithfully record the good things You are doing and to thank You for them daily. Let my gratitude overflow so that others see Your light in me. May my joy point back to Your glory, and may my heart never take for granted all the goodness that comes—from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
