A Grateful Heart
Summary: Why we should be worshiping with joy and thanksgiving in every season — and what we can do to cultivate that kind of worship.
Opening Transparency
OK, a little transparency here.
I’ve read Psalm 100 many times before. I felt led to preach on it, but honestly, I couldn’t get anything to come together. My heart wasn’t in it.
Yesterday I was running around trying to get things ready since I’m leaving after church. Carrie and I went out for dinner, and I got a call that a neighbor who needed some help.
I kind of him hauled around on it — told him I’d try to make it over if I could. When we got home, I started cleaning out my car. It was a wreck from work — full of dust, dirt, and tools. I was trying to get it cleaned up because Carrie’s going to be driving it while I take her car tonight.
As I was cleaning, the Lord spoke to my heart:
“Isn’t it great to be able to do this? Good thing you don’t need help.”
I said, “Okay, God… I’m grateful.”
So, I wrapped it up and told Carrie, “I’m going next door to help. I’ll be back shortly.”
I got in my car — the one I just cleaned and pulled under the carport — and it wouldn’t start.
Tried it several times — nothing.
My first reaction was, “Great… now what? It’s late, I’ve already called my neighbor and said I was coming, and if this car doesn’t start, Carrie won’t have a car for two days.”
Then came that little tug from the Holy Spirit:
“No, you said you would go.”
So, I went inside, grabbed Carrie’s keys, and drove her car next door. We got his engine set in, and when I left, I found myself thanking God for the ability to help.
When I got back home, I pulled into the carport and saw my car sitting there — the one that wouldn’t start. I popped the hood, pulled out my jumper cables, and thought, Let’s try it one more time.
It started right up.
And in that moment, Psalm 100 came to my mind. Just as if God said (You Get It Now)
Scripture Reading: Psalm 100 (NKJV)
A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People
A Psalm of Thanksgiving
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Illustration: The Complaining Man
There’s a story about a man who spent most of his days complaining about life.
The bills kept piling up, the car was always in the shop, and nothing ever seemed to go his way.
One day, a friend invited him to ride along to a local soup kitchen. When they arrived, he was shocked — people who had far less than he did… people who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from… were singing, clapping, and praising God with smiles that lit up the room.
In that moment, he realized — gratitude isn’t about having everything perfect.
It’s about recognizing the goodness you already have and worshiping God for it.
1. Gratitude Is a Choice, Not a Feeling
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord… Serve the Lord with gladness.”
Psalm 100 opens with a command, not a suggestion.
Worship isn’t something we do when we feel good — it’s a decision to praise God because He is good.
Worship is active. It’s intentional. Sometimes it’s loud, sometimes it’s quiet, but it always begins with a heart that says, “God, You are worthy.”
Serving the Lord shouldn’t feel like a chore; it’s a celebration!
Joy invites the presence of God into our lives.
2. Worship With Your Heart, Not a Checklist
Let me ask you something:
When you worship — are you worshiping with joy?
Are you serving with gladness in your heart?
Or has it become routine?
• Showed up at church — check.
• Put something in the offering plate — check.
• Sang a few songs — check.
God isn’t impressed by our checklists.
He’s looking at our hearts.
Worship is not about going through the motions — it’s about celebrating the Lord and all that He’s done, even when you’re worn out.
So let your joy be an offering to Him!
Everybody say it with me: “Joy is my offering!”
Now say it again — “JOY is my offering!”
3. Remember Who God Is
“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Gratitude grows when we remember who God is.
He is our Creator, our Shepherd, our Provider, and our Protector.
He’s the One who guards the gate.
He’s the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to come after the one.
He’s the God who never left your side when everyone else walked away.
He’s the One who sent His only Son to die on a cross so that you and I could live!
That’s why we worship with gratitude.
That’s what fuels our thanksgiving.
Who here today is thankful for what the Lord has done?
When you remember that you belong to the One who spoke the universe into existence, gratitude begins to flow naturally.
It changes your perspective. It shifts your attitude.
4. Thanksgiving Opens the Door to Worship
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”
Thanksgiving is the doorway to worship — it’s how we step into the presence of God.
Our worship should never depend on how we feel, because feelings change. But the character of God never changes.
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”
When gratitude becomes a daily habit, the atmosphere of your heart transforms.
Even in pain, even in uncertainty, gratitude invites joy to rise up again.
5. Three Keys to Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude
If you’re wondering how to make gratitude part of your daily life, here are three simple truths:
1. Recognize God’s goodness daily — even in the small things.
2. Respond with joy — serve Him with gladness, not grumbling.
3. Repeat thanksgiving — make it your daily rhythm.
6. The Invitation to Reset
Some of you today may have lost that heart of gratitude because the storms of life have worn you down.
But hear me — God is still good. His love still endures. His faithfulness has not failed.
Maybe today is the day to hit “reset.”
Maybe today you decide:
“I’m going to cultivate a heart of gratitude, no matter what season I’m in.”
Write it down. Speak it out.
Thank Him for one thing every day — and let that gratitude open the door for His presence to flood your life.
You don’t have to wait for perfect conditions to worship.
Worship now.
Worship right where you are.
Not because life is easy — but because God is worthy.
7. Call to Worship
Let’s stand together.
Let’s lift our hearts, lift our hands, and give God joyful, thankful praise!
Because He is good, His love endures forever, and His faithfulness will never fail you!
Let your gratitude be loud!
Let your worship be bold!
Let your joy be unstoppable!
Let’s sing it together:
*“I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice
