Heart Of Gratitude

Devotional

Day 1: The heart of gratitude seeks God's manifest presence.

The heart that truly thanks God pursues the manifest presence above gifts and success; like David who went and brought up the ark with gladness, believers are called to prepare a place in their life — a tabernacle of devotion — where the presence of the Lord can rest and blessings follow. [02:36]

2 Samuel 6:11-12 (ESV)
The ark of the LORD remained at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belonged to him.
And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.

Reflection: Where is the specific place you will prepare this week to meet God? Block 15–30 minutes on your calendar this week, go there, and ask God to meet you in that place.

Day 2: Seek God's presence first and receive everything.

Putting God's presence first — seeking His kingdom and righteousness — reorders priorities so that power and promises flow; when presence becomes the first pursuit, the rest of life’s needs begin to follow as by God’s design. [18:06]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Reflection: Choose one worry (finances, job, relationship). Today, for ten minutes, replace planning with presence: quietly seek God’s face, say, “Lord, I seek You first,” then write one obedient step you will take this week in trust.

Day 3: Thanksgiving opens the door to praise.

Thanksgiving is not merely a response; it is the key that unlocks praise — entering God’s gates with gratitude shifts the heart into worship and invites His presence to come alive in everyday moments. [43:02]

Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Reflection: Tomorrow morning, list five concrete things God has done for you in the past year; aloud, thank Him for each item and then speak one sentence of praise for who He is because of those things.

Day 4: True gratitude costs something and honors Jesus.

Real thanksgiving is costly — it may cost time, pride, comfort, or resources — just as the woman broke her alabaster jar to honor Jesus; costly gratitude honors Jesus above reputation and shows a heart that remembers what God has done. [26:12]

Luke 7:36 (ESV)
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.

Luke 7:50 (ESV)
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Reflection: What is one costly act (time, money, humility) you can do this week to honor Jesus? Do it before Sunday and tell a brother or sister you did it.

Day 5: Thanksgiving affirms God hears and acts.

Speaking thanksgiving even in the stink of a situation is faith that God hears and will act; like Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb, thankful prayer aligns heaven to move and stirs belief in those around you. [45:17]

John 11:42 (ESV)
and I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.

Reflection: When a circumstance feels “stinking” today, spend five minutes praying: “Father, I thank You that You hear me,” then write down one specific outcome you ask God to do and give thanks as if He has already begun.

Sermon Summary

I walked us through 2 Samuel 6 to fix our hearts on the one thing that matters most: His presence. Obed-Edom’s house was blessed, not because he had the right resume or resources, but because the Ark—the manifest presence of God—was there. That is still the center of life with God: not gold, victories, or platforms, but the nearness of the Lord. David knew this. He went to get the Ark “with gladness,” paid a price in sacrifice, stripped off royal image management, and danced with all his might. Gratitude wasn’t cute; it was costly, humble, and overflowing. It made room for God.

I urged us to do what David did: prepare a place for His presence. Build a “tabernacle” in your life—an actual space and a practiced rhythm—where you regularly acknowledge Him. Gratitude is the way in. Thanksgiving opens the gates; praise fills the courts. Many want blessings, but few prioritize presence. Saul wanted outcomes; David wanted God. The difference shows up when God seems to do “nothing.” David still worshiped.

We also talked about how presence carries power and promise. When God speaks, He creates. He calls the “nothing” into “something,” and His presence reminds you of every word He’s spoken over your life. That’s why worship in hard places infuriates the enemy—it keeps you aligned with God’s Word while your circumstances are still shifting. Gratitude then becomes the discipline of remembering. The grateful leper was made whole, not just healed. Jericho fell once, and Israel never had to march like that again, because remembered victories become future strength.

Finally, we looked at the alabaster woman and Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb and with the five loaves—thanksgiving that costs something, thanksgiving that precedes the miracle, thanksgiving that multiplies “not enough.” Gratitude isn’t a response to presence; gratitude is the key that opens the door to presence. Seek first His presence, and everything else will find its place.

Key Takeaways

1. Prioritize presence over blessings Gratitude that seeks God Himself will outlast seasons when answers delay. David didn’t celebrate furniture; he celebrated fellowship. When presence is the prize, worship survives disappointment and resists idolatry. In His presence are both power and promises. [24:09]
2. Build a place for His presence Desire alone is not enough; make room. Create rhythms and spaces—however simple—where God is acknowledged, honored, and welcomed. You may need to clear clutter and re-order habits. Presence often meets preparation. [05:26]
3. Gratitude is the key, not response Thanksgiving isn’t merely what we do after God moves; it’s how we enter where God is. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” is a posture, not a mood. When you can’t lift a song, start with thanks; it unlocks praise and reopens the door you thought was shut. [42:50]
4. Gratitude remembers and makes whole Healing repairs what’s broken; wholeness restores what was stolen. The grateful leper received more than relief—he received recovery. Remembering God’s past faithfulness becomes the soil for present victory and future resilience. [29:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Thanksgiving and turning to 2 Samuel 6
[01:00] - Obed-Edom blessed by the Presence
[03:15] - David’s dance: passion, humility, joy
[05:12] - David’s tabernacle: make room for God
[08:06] - Praise in pain defies the enemy
[12:13] - Presence equals power and promise
[18:49] - Structure without Spirit vs. Presence
[20:52] - Worth the wait: pursuing His presence
[26:40] - Alabaster box: gratitude costs something
[29:21] - Ten lepers: gratitude makes whole
[31:40] - Jericho memory and future battles
[42:50] - Gratitude is the key, not response
[45:17] - Thanksgiving before miracles (Lazarus, loaves)
[52:46] - Closing and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
2 Samuel 6:11–12
11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed‑edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed‑edom and all his household. 12 It was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed‑edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed‑edom to the city of David with gladness.

Observation questions (look closely at the text and the sermon)

What does 2 Samuel 6:11–12 say was the reason Obed‑edom’s house was blessed? How does the text identify the connection between blessing and the ark? [01:00]
Verse 12 says David brought the ark “with gladness.” In the sermon the pastor equated gladness with gratitude and described David’s actions (sacrifices, dancing, laying aside royal garments). Which details in the broader 2 Samuel 6 narrative show David’s heart of thanksgiving and preparation for God’s presence? [02:58]
The passage points to the ark as the manifest presence of God. What concrete images or phrases in these verses point you to presence (not possession or victory) as the central focus? [01:22]

Interpretation questions (think about what the passage and sermon mean)

The speaker said, “Wherever the presence of the Lord is, you will be blessed.” How should the group understand “blessed” here—material blessing, spiritual blessing, protection, a different kind of wholeness? What does the text support? [02:19]
The sermon warned against “structure without Spirit” (religion that has form but not presence). What signs in a church or in a person’s devotional life would indicate structure without Spirit? How would that differ from a life or church marked by God’s presence? [18:49]
The pastor argued that gratitude is not primarily a response to God’s action but “the key that opens the door to his presence.” How does that reframe the sequence of worship (thanksgiving → praise → presence)? What theological or practical concerns does that raise for worship during hard seasons? [42:50]
David’s worship combined passion, humility (linen ephod), and joy. What does that combination communicate about the posture God wants from worshipers? How might those three—passion, humility, joy—show up differently in private and corporate worship? [33:44]

Application questions (practical, personal next steps)

Build a place for presence: Name one specific physical spot and a 10–15 minute weekly rhythm you will commit to this month as your “tabernacle” (time of prayer, Scripture, thanksgiving). What will you remove or change to protect that time? [05:26]
Re-order priorities: The sermon challenged listeners to prioritize presence over blessings. Identify one thing you currently prioritize over time with God (work, side project, social media, achievement). What is one concrete action you will take this week to re-order that (e.g., set one phone-free hour, say no to an extra shift, block out Sunday morning)? [24:09]
Practice gratitude as an opener: When praise feels impossible, the pastor said start with thanks. Write three specific, small things you can thank God for every morning this week (they can be as simple as a safe drive, a child’s laugh, food). How will you remind yourself to do this? [42:50]
Costly gratitude: The alabaster woman broke something precious as worship. What is one resource (time, money, reputation, pride) you can “break” for Jesus in the next 30 days? Be specific (e.g., give $50 to someone in need, spend three hours serving, apologize to one person). [26:12]
Remember past victories: The sermon used Jericho and the ten lepers to show that remembering wins gives future strength. Pick one “Jericho” from your life (a time God delivered you). How will you memorialize that victory so you won’t forget it when new battles come? Pick one concrete step (write it in a journal entry, tell a friend, create a short testimony to share). [31:40]
Move from healing to wholeness: The thankful leper was “made whole.” Name one area where you want not just relief but full restoration (relationship, finances, health, peace). What is one spiritual practice you will pursue this week toward wholeness (confession, reconnecting with a person, counseling, consistent thanksgiving)? [29:39]
Offer small things with thanksgiving: When circumstances say “not enough,” list two small resources or acts you can bring to God this week (time to listen, a small gift, hospitality, a short prayer). Commit to offering them in thanks and watch for how God multiplies. What will you offer, and when will you do it? [46:23]

Use this guide to keep the group focused on presence, gratitude that prepares space for God, and practical steps that form lasting rhythms.

Sermon Clips

If you want to make the devil mad, worship God. Praise him. Just give him glory. Just give him honor. Just say, God, I'm going to praise you anyway today. I know this doesn't look good. I know it doesn't feel good. I know it still hurts. I know I'm still broke, disgusted, and everything else, God, but I'm going to give you praise. I'm going to give you honor. I'm going to give you glory. And the devil don't like it. He just doesn't like it. [00:08:02] (23 seconds) #PraiseMakesTheDevilMad

God creates something out of nothing. From the very beginning of Genesis chapter number one, he can speak to nothing and make it something. And so if you feel like a nothing this morning, I got good news for you. We serve a powerful God today. And he makes it, it's not a habit, it's who he is. He'll speak right into your nothing. And in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, that nothing will become something because he just don't have power. He's got creative power. [00:14:20] (26 seconds) #GodCreatesFromNothing

Many want God's blessing, but few prioritize his presence. We want his blessings, but what we really want is his presence. The reason why David was chosen over Saul was because all Saul wanted was his blessings, and then David came up, and David wanted his presence. What's the difference? I'll tell you. Even if you don't do anything for me, if you don't heal me, I'm going to still worship you. If I don't get the job, I still got you. If things are not going to come up the way I thought it was going to come up, I know you said you'll never leave me nor forsake me. [00:24:05] (45 seconds) #PresenceOverBlessings

``Gratitude is the loudest in the life of someone who remembers what God saved them from. If you're around a loud praiser, don't be mad or upset with them. They are the ones that remember better than you do what God has done for them. That doesn't mean they got better lungs than you are. They've been in a spirit-filled church their whole life. They just remember better than you are. And the devil tries to get you to forget. Don't allow the enemy to allow you to forget all his benefits. [00:28:00] (30 seconds) #GratitudeRemembers

Wholeness not only heals you, but wholeness gives you back everything the devil stole from you during the crisis. Oh, come on, man. Do you know what I just said? Thank God for his healing. Thank God he healed us. Thank God he delivered us. Thank God he delivered us. But once you have a heart full of gratitude, he said, not only am I going to heal you and deliver you, but I'm going to make the devil give back everything he stole from you during that time of aggression. [00:29:51] (28 seconds) #WholenessRestoresAll

Gratitude is not a response to God's presence. It's the keynote. It's not a response. Gratitude is not a response. It's the key. See, we think that gratitude is a response to presence. Right? I've got his presence. I thank you, Lord, for your presence. No. It's the key that opens the door to his presence. Psalms 100, verse 4. I will enter his gates with thanksgiving. And now I can enter his courts with praise. You don't enter into praise until you enter in thanksgiving. [00:42:42] (48 seconds) #GratitudeIsTheKey

If you can't praise him, thank him because you are alive. You're alive. And don't get me wrong. There was a truck with your name on it that was supposed to hit you. It didn't. It didn't. There's sickness supposed to get on your body and kill you. It didn't. There's all kinds of stuff that should have destroyed your marriage. It didn't. Your kids should be going crazy around it. They're not. She's just thinking. If you can't praise him, thank him. Enter his gates with thanksgiving. [00:43:59] (26 seconds) #GratefulToBeAlive

No matter what kind of garbage you're going through, no matter what people are saying about you, no matter how stinking your situation is, do not forget that God still hears you. And if he hears you, he's still able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ask for a thank you. So for those of you guys that feel like your situation is too stinking to praise the Lord, remember what Jesus did. Right in the middle of a funeral service, Jesus says, I thank you that you hear me always. [00:45:40] (26 seconds) #GodStillHearsYou

Small things that we give thanks for that we are grateful for activates miracles. Thank you. I got these. All I got, I got all these hungry people. I got five loaves and two fishes. I just, I thank you for it. Don't despise smaller things. Don't despise the things that you don't have. Praise what you do have. Whenever you have a heart of gratitude, you'll praise what you do have. And that opens doors to a miracle. And God turned those five loaves and two fishes for a miracle to feed everything they have. [00:46:38] (32 seconds) #SmallThanksBigMiracles

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His mercies endure forever. Give thanks to the Lord. We sing the song. He's good. Not just some of the times. He's good all the time. And his mercies endures. You know what what endures means? Endures means patiently remains. God is so good, that even when you're not giving him things, and you don't deserve it, he patiently remains until you start giving him things again. And even when you forget, he endures. [00:48:14] (51 seconds) #HisMercyEndures

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