The Daily Word

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Thanking God for the Past, Trusting Him for the Future: Lessons from Psalm 9 on New Year's Day

Friends, as we wake up to the first day of 2026, there's no better way to start than with heartfelt praise. Psalm 9 is David's song of thanksgiving for God's faithfulness in the past and confident trust for whatever lies ahead. He begins with a resolve we all need: "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."

On this New Year's Day, let's follow David's lead. Take a moment to look back over 2025—with all its highs and lows—and thank God with your whole heart for His wonderful deeds. He was faithful then, and He will be faithful now. Whether He delivered you from trouble, provided in tight places, comforted in sorrow, or simply carried you through ordinary days, every good thing came from His hand. Praise isn't just polite—it's powerful. It shifts our focus from circumstances to the character of our unchanging God.

David goes on to celebrate how God judges justly, rebuking nations and upholding the righteous. He is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know His name trust Him because He never forsakes those who seek Him. In a world that feels increasingly unstable, that's our anchor for 2026: God sits enthroned forever, establishing justice and defending the fatherless and afflicted.

But David doesn't ignore the reality of enemies and hardship. He acknowledges threats and even cries out, "Arise, Lord... that the mortal schemes of man may come to an end." Yet even in the cry is confidence—God remembers, He acts, He vindicates. As we step into a new year with unknown challenges ahead, we can sing like David: God is our stronghold. When anxiety rises or difficulties come, run to Him first.

The psalm ends with a call to proclaim His deeds among the nations and a prayer for continued mercy. That's our mission in 2026: tell others what God has done, live in His grace, and trust Him to handle what we cannot.

This New Year's Day isn't about empty resolutions—it's about renewed reliance on the God who reigns forever.

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church 

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