Recount

 

My parents and my kids

• “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 (ESV) 

Some stories are so good, you want to hear them again and again. When we were kids, we always asked my dad to tell us the story about his wedding day. He would tell us about getting married at our church in Rio de Janeiro. We would laugh and laugh when dad told us the part about him kissing my mom on the forehead when the pastor said they were married. 

We learned to love that story of how our family started. It became part of us. We learned to appreciate the goodness of God through those words my dad gladly repeated over and over to his five little children. 

The Bible tells us about recounting stories. “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 

Recounting what God has done is good. It builds our faith. It encourages us when we are down. It also glorifies God, who is wonderful in all His ways. 

What should you recount? You can start with what God did in the Bible. He so loved us that He sent Jesus to save us. He did many other wonderful things in the Bible which clearly demonstrate His matchless character. 

You can continue with answered prayers. Imagine if for a moment, instead of choosing to talk about any secular topic, you and your friends recount the many times God answered your prayers. The victories He gave you. Imagine how encouraged and recharged everyone would feel.

The Bible encourages us to tell God’s commandments and wonders to our children. 

“You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deut. 11:19. 

If we choose to make recounting a habit, there will be little room for complaint in our lips. 

There isn’t a shortage of things Jesus did to recount. Here’s how the writer of John puts it:  

"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." John 21:25

The good news is that God is still at work today. Let’s create the habit of thankfully recounting what He has done.

Prayer: Thank you God for all you have done for me. Today, I want to recount the time You (add your story). I appreciate You for being so good to me. Help me to fill my lips with God stories. Teach me to freely tell others of what You have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.