Old Testament believers understood that the heart was the center of life and also believed the heart was the center of a person’s passions or motivations. Consider how your heart quickly responds when excited, scared, or nervous. 

When the psalmist says “my heart trusts,” he is giving an example of what it means to set aside personal motivations and trust God’s leadership completely. He knows that is how he is helped.

The psalmist also says “my heart exults.” The word in Hebrew means to be openly joyful and filled with praise. People will notice a heart that exults when they see our reactions and our joy. The psalmist’s praise motivates his actions and causes him to openly sing a song of gratitude to God.

Our goal as believers is to abide in God’s holy Presence, trusting him to be our strength for the journey and our shield of protection. God is our help, and we should live gratefully aware that he walks with us as a protective, loving Father walks with his child.

When last was your gratitude for God’s help and blessing so overwhelming that those around you could see that your heart was exulting, rejoicing with songs of thanks? Wisdom is offering our gratitude to God. Wisdom will fill our hearts with thanksgiving because we understand that God himself is our strength and shield. Our hearts will exult with an attitude of praise so that others will know we are children of the one true and holy God.