In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts God’s merciful love that He has for His people. He reminds the Israelites that God is the One who did many great signs and wonders in Egypt to deliver them out of the bondage of slavery. God is the One who will give them the Promised Land. Moses tells them that after God accomplishes great things on their behalf, they will be tempted to forget all that He has done for them.

Read Deuteronomy 8:1—20
• As you listened to this passage, what messages is the writer sending to believers?

• Why is it easy to take God’s protection and provision for granted?

8:10 is traditionally cited as the reason we say grace before or after
meals.

• How can table prayers serve as a reminder of the Lord’s goodness?

• When we are in times of plenty, who often takes credit for the
abundance?

Deuteronomy 8:2 (New International Readers’s Version) “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way.”

Even in times of difficulty. Fisher Humphreys in his book Thinking About God challenges believers to replace the phrase “it must have been the will of God” with “even though this has happened, I continue to trust in God.”

• What problems do we encounter when we attribute tragedies to the “will of God”?

• Why would an affirmation “I continue to trust in God” be more comforting the face of a disappointing loss?

Edward Winslow wrote to the pilgrims settling the Plymouth Colony in 1620 a thanksgiving challenge. “Having these many signs of God’s favor and acceptance, we thought it would be a great ingratitude if secretly we should content ourselves with private thanksgiving… Therefore, another solemn day was set apart and appointed for that end; wherein we returned glory, honor and praise, with all thankfulness to our God who dealt so graciously with us.”

What a wonderful example those early Pilgrims provide of choosing gratitude in times of want and times of plenty.

• Do you remember some desperate situations or seasons of your life when you have witnessed God’s providential protection and provision?

The Pilgrims set a wonderful example of choosing gratitude in times of want and in times of plenty.
No matter how dark or bright the days are for you, there is peace found in gratitude.

• Could you make a list of at least ten things you have to be grateful
for?
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10.

In this season of Thanksgiving, pause to recall all the things you have to be grateful for. The ancient words of Moses are just as powerful today.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (New International Readers’s Version) “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way.”