How often do you consider the mercy of God in your life; especially with regards to your pre-converted state? One way to assess that is by asking this follow up question: Is it a consistent thought that your current life right now is so much better than what you deserve and so much better than it would be had God left you to yourself?
The reason why this mercy recollection is so important is because there is a direct link between understanding the mercy of God and having thankfulness to God. Those who consistently apprehend God’s mercy will live thankful lives, which we are called to live at all times—1 Thess. 5:16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Conversely, it follows that when you find yourself in seasons in which you are not genuinely thankful to God, you have lost sight of his mercy in your life. In other words, it is easy for us to gradually adopt a mindset that we deserve God’s blessings in our lives and then when we don’t feel we are receiving what we deserve, we conclude we are being ripped off. This turns the mercy of God on its head. So let us not presume on the mercy of God, but give him the praise he is due because of it (Rom. 15:9).