4835 Franklin Turnpike, Danville VA

Today, it was a blessing to join the online service for Mount Hermon Baptist Church, the 119th church on this humbling journey. They are in the middle of a beautiful series, “Summer in the Psalms,” and today’s focus was Psalm 9.

From their beginning in 1844, Mount Hermon Baptist has grown from a small rural congregation to a church with a far-reaching impact, faithfully serving not only the Danville and Pittsylvania County area but also touching lives across the state, the nation, and even the world. Missions are not just something they do, missions are in their DNA. For over 170 years, they have lived out the Great Commission with a heartbeat that beats for the nations and a passion for future generations to know Christ.

Today’s scripture reading took us to Psalm 9:1-20, and as I read the verses on the screen, my heart was stirred:

“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)

David’s words are not half-hearted. He doesn’t say, “I will give thanks when I feel like it.” He says, “I will give thanks with my whole heart.” That is complete surrender, a life so anchored in God that even in the valleys, the praise still rises.

As I read those words, I couldn’t help but think about my own walk, how I am still walking through painful memories of the past, carrying scars that sometimes still ache. And yet… here I am, still standing. Still worshiping. Still singing to the Most High, because God has brought me through things that should have destroyed me.

Pastor Steve Chromy delivered a message titled “Wholehearted Worship” and it pierced my soul. He reminded us that worship is more than the sound of our voices. Worship is not confined to a melody, it is how we live, how we love, how we give, and how we react when life presses hard against us.

Worship is how we show up for God, even when we feel tired or broken. Worship is found in the quiet moments when we choose forgiveness over bitterness, trust over fear, and faith over despair.

Pastor Steve said something that echoed in my spirit: “What we meditate on is what we worship.”

If my mind is always on my pain, then pain becomes my focus. If my thoughts dwell on my enemies, bitterness becomes my altar. But if my heart and mind are fixed on God, if I recount His goodness, remember His mercies, and meditate on His faithfulness, then He alone becomes my worship.

True worship is not something we switch on for an hour on Sunday. It is a continuous action, a posture of the heart. As Pastor Steve reminded us, lukewarm worship is detestable in the sight of God. Revelation 3:16 says, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

God is not interested in partial devotion. He wants all of us, our heart, our mind, our soul, our strength. Because He is worthy of all glory, all honor, all praise, above everything else in this world.

The wicked will face His judgment, but His children can always trust Him. He has never failed, and He never will. If He has carried me this far, through abuse, through heartbreak, through despair, how could I not give Him my wholehearted worship?

Psalm 9 calls us to recount the wonderful deeds of the Lord, to look back and remember what He’s done. And when I look back over my life, I see countless moments when His hand was over me. Times when I didn’t even want my life anymore, yet He kept me. Times when I thought the darkness would win, but He brought me into the light.

I am not here because I am strong. I am here because God is God, and I am just a woman who said yes to His mercy.

To the family at Mount Hermon Baptist Church, thank you for today’s message. Even though I joined you online, your ministry reached my heart in a powerful way. I look forward to visiting in person soon, to worship alongside you and experience the warmth of your congregation face-to-face.

I am grateful to God for saving my life when I didn’t want to be saved, for restoring my heart when I thought it was too broken to heal, and for placing me on this journey that is transforming me more than I ever imagined.

I can’t wait to see where He leads me next. Until then, my prayer is this:

Lord, let my worship be wholehearted. Let my life be an unceasing song of praise. Keep me from growing lukewarm. Keep my eyes on You, my treasure, my joy, my Most High King. In Jesus’ name, Amen.