Have you ever been asked to give your Christian testimony? Oftentimes, it takes the form of recounting the sinful way one formerly lived, and how an encounter with Christ has brought about repentance. But it is easy for such testimonies to degenerate into self-focus, if not into self-congratulation: “Look at how good I am now!”

In contrast, the writer of Psalm 116 has a laser-like focus on God. Instead of explaining how sinful his life used to be, he gives God praise for delivering him for his terrible troubles (verses 3-4). And he gives all the glory to God for his salvation: he admits that by God’s grace (verse 5), the Lord has rescued him from death, wiped away his tears, and led him in the path of righteousness (verse 8).

And while the psalmist does pledge to change his life, walking before the Lord (verse 9) and giving God thanks and praise (verse 17), his focus continues to be on God: on Who He is and on what He has done. In fact, it is his relationship with God and God’s people that is most important to him: he insists that he is nothing more than God’s servant (verse 16), and he longs to keep his vows to God not in secret, but openly, among God’s faithful people in the courts of the Lord’s house (verses 18 and 19).

So, while it’s not wrong to talk about the way God has changed our lives, let’s make sure we keep the main thing the main thing. “I was brought low and He saved me” (verse 6) – it’s hard to summarize the saving work of Christ more succinctly than that. And it’s hard to imagine a better reason to love the Lord with all our hearts (verse 1).

Psalm 116 (NASB)

I Love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death encompassed me, And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech Thee, save my life!”
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For Thou hast rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.
10 I believed when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my alarm, “All men are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?
13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.
16 O LORD, surely I am Thy servant, I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid, Thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 To Thee I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people,
19 In the courts of the LORD’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!