~ Psalm 9:1
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Psalm 9 opens with a declaration that is both worship and witness. David is not offering partial gratitude or a polite acknowledgment. He speaks of giving thanks with his whole heart. In Hebrew, the word for heart refers to the inner life. It includes mind, emotion, intention, memory, and will. David is choosing to engage every part of himself as he reflects on the works of God.
The second half of the verse is just as important. Gratitude in Scripture is never only internal. David says he will recount the wonderful deeds of the Lord. The word recount means to declare, number, or tell the story. David understood that thanksgiving becomes stronger when it is voiced.
Remembering the works of God is an act of spiritual alignment, but recounting them is an act of spiritual resilience. It strengthens faith, renews perspective, and pushes back against the lies that fear and discouragement try to plant in the heart.
Giving thanks with your whole heart is more than a feeling. It is a discipline that shapes your spiritual life, your emotional outlook, and even your physical well-being. Scripture connects remembrance with renewal. When Israel forgot God’s works, they fell into anxiety and unbelief. When they remembered, they found courage, clarity, and confidence.
This verse also speaks to the relational side of Biblical Health. Recounting the works of God builds community. Testimony stirs hope in others. Your story about how God lifted you from despair, provided when you had nothing, or restored what was broken may be the spark that helps someone else trust Him again. Gratitude becomes a ministry when it is shared.
There is also a practical physical dimension here. Modern research continues to show what Scripture has revealed all along. Gratitude lowers stress, steadies the nervous system, strengthens the immune response, and improves sleep.
When you recount the works of the Lord, you are literally calming your body and renewing your mind. You are replacing anxious thoughts with truth. You are choosing life instead of the heaviness that comes from focusing on what is wrong or incomplete.
Let today be a day of intentional remembrance. Pause and recount the goodness of God in your home, your family, your work, and your journey. Let your heart be stirred to worship. Let your testimony strengthen someone else. Gratitude is more than a feeling. It is a spiritual practice that transforms the whole person.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your wonderful deeds in my life. Remind me to pause and remember what You have done. Fill my heart with wholehearted gratitude and help me share testimony that encourages others. Teach me to recount Your goodness so that my mind is renewed and my spirit stays grounded in truth. Amen.
