LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Monday 26th January 2026
 
SING PRAISE TO GOD
 
Scripture Reading: Psalm 9
 
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvellous works I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
 
Psalm 9 is attributed to David. The Psalm is written in expectation of God’s deliverance. The psalmist opens by expressing his wholehearted gratitude to God, even before telling the reader the reason. From this Psalm, we learn that praising and worshipping God must be done willingly and intentionally. Even when we don’t feel like praising God, we must choose to do so.
 
Four times in these two verses, David uses the phrase, ‘I will’. As you ponder the words you get the distinct impression that David chose to praise God at a time when it was difficult for him to have a positive attitude.
 
I will praise you.

 This is how David starts the Psalm. He shows us that praising God is a choice. We choose to praise God. Our praise is not just a response to what God has done for us, but it is also an expression of our attitude toward God. That is why the psalmist chose to praise God with his whole heart.
 
I will tell you about all your marvellous works.

 We praise God by remembering and recounting what He has done for us. We must endeavour to testify to God’s goodness and learn to express our appreciation without any reservation.
 
I will be glad and rejoice in you.

 We can choose to be joyful even when we are surrounded by threats all around. We can choose to be glad even when things are not going well with us. Life’s struggles and battles lose their sting when we choose to rejoice rather than complain and despair.
 
I will sing of your name.

We must focus all of our praise on the Lord. We must magnify Him and speak of His goodness as we remember His works.
 
Prayer: _Heavenly Father, thank you for your marvellous works in my life. I choose to praise you continually. In Jesus name, Amen!