I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High (Psalm 9.1-2). Though not knowing the specific scenario in which David wrote this Psalm, we do know he experienced difficult trials and severe opposition. Throughout his life, David chose to think beyond the difficult and fix his eyes on the Lord and His sovereign design. Four times in these two verses he speaks of definite choices: I will. The choices David made are an example for us in making heart choices, regardless of circumstances. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart. May we be intentionally thankful before the LORD, resting in God’s will which is always good, even though it is not always understood. Giving thanks with our whole heart is not just when things are going well or when receiving life benefits; this is not half-hearted from an attitude of obligation or mere obedience. Wholehearted thankfulness is rooted in our relationship with the Lord and an understanding of His holy character.
Secondly, David says I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Regardless of our circumstances, may we fix our eyes on the wonderful deeds of our Lord. It is good to take time to think and remember His gracious working in our lives; to consider the very gift of life, His sovereign care over our lives, His gift of salvation and the fulness of His promises, and the anticipation of being in His eternal presence. Third, I will be glad and exult in you. We can choose gladness when remembering His wonderful deeds, knowing He will never let us out of His sight. We can choose to glorify His Name, knowing all He does is good, and will be good for us as we trust Him. Fourth, I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. In recognizing His sovereign design and rule over all creation, in believing Him to be ever righteous in all His works, in knowing He has called us to Himself in salvation, we can choose to praise His Name. He has revealed Himself to us for purpose, and may we be filled with thankfulness and gladness, remembering His gracious working in us which brings us to glorifying His Name and praising Him alone.
Choosing to focus on the Lord – we do have much to be thankful for –
Terry
My Morning Desk 