The Way of Gratitude: “When Gratitude Gets Loud”

 The Way of Gratitude

Introduction:

Good morning friends. My name is Stuart Davidson. I am the pastor here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. We are in the second week of a four week series entitled “The Way of Gratitude.”

The other day I was having a quiet time. I came across a super unusual story. Like crazy unusual. It was the story of the leper colony of Carville, Louisiana. You heard me correctly. A leper colony in Carville, Louisiana. 224 miles away. A mere 3 hour and 16 minute drive from Daphne, AL. The year was 1900. Carville was and still is a very small town south of Baton Rouge. The town became home to a hospital suffering from Hansen’s disease, better known as leprosy. The men and women who were sent there were quarantined. They were isolated from their families, separated from their friends, and excommunicated from society altogether. Imagine how that would have felt. Imagine the loneliness that you would have experienced.

The center of the devotion centered around a woman named Josephine. In a hospital filled with broken people, busted dreams, and beaten down hopes, Josephine seemed to shine. She had an effervescent joy that seemed to radiate from her. She was known for her happiness, known for her peace, known for her positivity.

Her joy was not attached to her body because her body was just as destroyed by leprosy as the rest of her compatriots.

Her nose was gone. It had deteriorated long ago. Her fingers were nubs. Her hands were now just palms. Her toes were also missing. She limped and stumbled her way through the hospital. She had to daily add salve to her eyes as the disease was robbing her of her eyesight, drying out her corneas. Her existence was marked by pain and suffering. She was shunned by society and suffering daily.

Still, Josephine was a picture of joy. Every Sunday morning, chapel services started with the ringing of the chapel bell. She would make her way to the small church and worship. During worship, you could hear her voice above all those attending. She sang with passion. She shouted with praise. She loudly praised the Lord.

When asked why she sang so loudly when she was forgotten and her body was broken, she smiled and said, “Because my Savior still sees me, still loves me, and still has a place for me.”

Her gratefulness, her thankfulness was louder than her suffering. Her praise was stronger than her praise.

What about you friends? How loud is your gratitude? Is your thankfulness, the joy of your heart, marked by your situation? Is your thankfulness dependent on positive outcomes?

After all, it is easier to show gratitude when the sun is shining, you have food in your belly, a roof over your head, a healthy body, and money in the bank.

What about when the storms come, when you are in want, when the big bad wolf comes and blows your house down, when your body fails, and your resources dry up?

How loud is your gratitude then?

Reminds me of Paul’s sentiments captured in Philippians 4:11-13 CSB,

“I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content, whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul certainly knew that our joy, our peace, and our gratitude should never be dependent on our circumstances. Rather, it should be firmly placed in the person of Jesus. That is faith.

Friends, the title of my message this morning is “When Gratitude Gets Loud.”

Today’s Message:

“When Gratitude Gets Loud”

This morning we will be reading from the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 105. I will talk about that text in just a second. Psalm 105 opens with “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” Gratitude that is true, that is real, that is pure cannot stay quiet. When we experience the goodness, the greatness, and the healing power of God, we should be overwhelmed with thanksgiving.

So, I have been studying for this message now for about 3 weeks. Just putting my thoughts together and trying to get my facts straight. I started thinking about all the miracles that Jesus performed. All the healings. The blind made to see. The deaf made to hear. The mute speaking. The deformed made whole. I was able to find 9 instances in the Bible where Jesus performed a healing miracle and told the person who received the miracle to either stay silent or to not tell anyone who performed the miracle.

You can find a story like that in every single Gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In each case, these people who had been miraculously healed were so overcome, so overwhelmed with gratitude that they could not contain their thanks.

The leper who was cleansed.

The deaf and mute man.

Jairus’s daughter.

The two blind men.

While not a miracle, listen to what He told Peter and the disciples in Matthew 16:13-20,

Matthew 16:13-17,20 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” [14] They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. [20] Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

In each case, these people were healed, they were blessed, they experienced something supernatural. They were so blown away by their blessing that they had to tell others.

Friends, when is the last time you stopped to thank God for your blessings? When was the last time you just thought about all that God has done for you? From your salvation to your sustenance, from your family to your future, from your forgiveness to your freedom in Christ, He has been so good to you.

Think about it. God has blessed you in the mountains and in the valleys, in plenty and in pain, in sunshine and in storm. He has guided your steps, guarded your soul, and given you strength when you thought you had none left. He has provided in ways you couldn’t predict, protected you in moments you didn’t perceive, and poured out grace you didn’t deserve.

Our gratitude ought to grow greater, our praise ought to get louder, and our thanksgiving ought to turn into testimony. Because when you really stop and see the goodness of God, you can’t stay silent. Gratitude has a way of breaking the sound barrier of the soul, it demands to be declared!

Brothers and sisters, do me a favor this morning and fill in these blanks under “Today’s Thought”:

Pausing on His faithfulness, fans the flame of praise. Boy is that ever true. I will challenge all of you this morning. I challenge you to stop every day this week and think of something new to thank God for, something new to praise Him, something new…just to say “God, I love you.”

Today’s Thought:

Pausing On His Faithfulness, Fans The Flame of Praise!

John Stott, in his book “The Contemporary Christian”, talks about how our worship is fueled by our gratefulness and thanks. Listen to what he says.

Today’s Quote:

“All true worship is a response to the self-revelation of God in Christ and in Scripture. It arises from our reflection on who He is and what He has done. The deeper our understanding of God’s character, the richer our worship will be.”

-John R. W. Stott’s “The Contemporary Christian: Applying God’s Word to Today’s World”

Did you hear that friends?

“It arises from our reflection on who He is and what He has done.”

That key word there is “reflection”. It is good, it is right, it is a Biblical prescription to occasionally stop, to think, to ponder, to reflect on the character of God. It is good to reflect on His wonders, His works, and His Word. Now I don’t want any of you to focus abnormally on God’s blessings and forgo praising the One who gave us these gifts. Don’t do that. Yet, it is good to stop and say, “God, thank you for all that you have done. I don’t deserve any of this, I didn’t earn it, I could never pay for it, yet you gave it to me anyway. Thank you.”

Introduction of Scripture:

This morning we are going to be reading from Psalm 105:1-5. Let me introduce that for you this morning.

Psalm 105 is a song of celebration. It’s a call to remember and rejoice in everything God has done for His people. Most scholars believe it was written by David, and parts of it were actually sung when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Jerusalem. You can even find some of these same words in 1 Chronicles 16, when David led God’s people in worship after years of waiting for that holy moment.

David was thrilled. The people were shouting. There was dancing, there were instruments, and there was joy. This was not quiet worship. This was loud, heartfelt, grateful praise to a faithful God.

And what David wanted the people to understand then is exactly what we need to remember now, that God’s goodness deserves our gratitude, and our gratitude should get loud. Psalm 105 begins with a call to give thanks, to proclaim His name, to tell everyone what He’s done, and to remember His wonderful works. It’s an invitation to live with a thankful heart that can’t keep quiet.

Friends, I want to remind you this morning that…

Statement of Faith:

“We are opening the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 105:1-5 ESV

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! [2] Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! [3] Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! [4] Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! [5] Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered…

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

Congregation: Praise His name, praise His holy name.

3 Practices That Can Enhance Your Gratitude

I. Praise His Name vs.1–2

This morning I want us to look at the 3 practices that can enhance your gratitude. These are not Stuart’s 3 practices because no one cares what I practice. What matters is what Scripture says, not what I say. So this morning I want us to turn to Scripture, learn from it and apply it.

So fill in this first point this morning. Our first practice…praise His name. That’s right, praise His name. Go back to verses 1 and 2.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! [2] Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”

Friends…

“True worship begins when we lift our voices in gratitude and proclaim the greatness of God for who He is and what He has done.”

What’s in a name? For those of you who have recently had a child, how much time did you and your husband devote to naming your bundle of joy?

Naming a child is really important. Angela and I spent hours and hours talking about the names of our children. Jay was named for 2 people really. He was named for Jay Wolf who was my pastor at First Montgomery. He was also named for Alabama quarterback Jay Barker. Jay Barker and the Crimson Tide won the national championship all the way back in 1992. I was 14 years old at the time. I will never forget when Jay led the Tide to a critical victory over the mighty Georgia Bulldogs…led then by Georgia great Eric Zier. Bama were heavy underdogs but Jay Barker played the game of his life and came out victorious. Some of you remember that game. Barker was subsequently interviewed on the field. He pointed to the sky, gave Jesus glory for the victory and promptly quoted 1 Peter 5:6,

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

Jack was also named for a couple of people. This time fictional. I love Tom Clancy books and movies. The main character in his books is Jack Ryan. Jack always found himself in difficult jams, tough scrapes, and impossible odds. Every time, Jack used his head and found a way out. Some of my favorite books are written by another author named Patrick O’Brian. The main character in all of his books is Captain Jack Aubrey. Captain Jack was an adventurer, a great leader of men, and an incredible strategist.

We knew that we had to name our third son with a “J”. You all know how important alliteration is to me. So we prayed long and hard about it and I remembered the Asian actor Jet Li. I always thought the name Jett was really cool and it also gave a little nod to Jett’s heritage. So, we went with Jett.

Some people name their children because of the meaning behind the name.

For instance, Christopher means “Christ bearer” or “one who carries Christ”.

Josh is shortened from Joshua which is taken from the Hebrew name Yehoshua. It means “Yahweh is salvation” or “the Lord saves”.

What about Abigail? Abigail comes from the Hebrew name Avigayil (אֲבִיגַיִל) which means “my father’s joy,” “my father is joyful,” or “source of joy.”

Scripture says that we should “call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!”

Well, what name do you want to use? God has many names and depending on what situation you find yourself in, you may want to change the name you use.

When you’re walking through a valley and your heart is heavy, call Him Jehovah-Shalom, “The Lord is Peace.”

When you feel weak and worn out, cry out to Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord who heals.”

When you’re scared and need protection, look up and call Him Jehovah-Nissi, “The Lord is my banner.”

When you’re struggling with need, when bills are high and resources are low, lift your eyes and call on Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord will provide.” Abraham gave God that name when He provided a ram in place of Isaac. He saw Abraham’s faith and met his need right on time. And He’ll do the same for you.

When you’re unsure of your next step, when the future seems uncertain, call Him Jehovah-Ra’ah, “The Lord is my shepherd.” That’s the name David knew well. Psalm 23 is the cry of a shepherd who had been shepherded himself. God doesn’t just direct your steps; He walks the path beside you.

And when you’re feeling lonely, abandoned, or forgotten, rest in the truth of Jehovah-Shammah, “The Lord is there.”

The author of Hebrews reminds us that we should continually praise the name of God, that we should openly profess His name.

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

Not only should we use His name, calling upon Him in our times of need, we should also praise His name. Praise should always be on our lips. I will tell you something right here and now friends, the more you call upon the name of the Lord, the more you will find yourself praising Him.

So our first step this morning is to praise the name of the Lord. All His names. Call upon Him.

Our second point this morning, our second practice that can enhance your gratitude, is to proclaim His works.

3 Practices That Can Enhance Your Gratitude

I. Praise His Name vs.1–2

II. Proclaim His Works vs.2–3

Go back to verses 2 and 3 this morning.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Friends,

“God’s people are called not only to sing about His glory but to speak of His mighty deeds so that others may know His power and grace.”

I bet that if I passed around a microphone…and asked you to share ways that you are thankful for God, we could spend just about all day here. One after another, we would talk about all the ways that God has delivered us, saved us, redirected our lives, healed us, comforted us, guided us, and yes…forgiven us.

Of all the things that you might want to be thankful for this morning, I bet you wouldn’t be thankful for fleas.

That’s right, I bet that you are not thankful for fleas.

One of my favorite stories of thankfulness comes from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. It is the story of Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie. The girls had been separated from their parents and interned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp during World War II. Their barracks were disgusting, filthy, overcrowded and sadly…infested with fleas. Corrie tells the story that one day her sister told her that they…”must thank God for everything… even the fleas.”

Corrie thought that her sister had finally lost it. Who would be thankful for fleas?

Weeks later, they discovered that the Nazi guards never entered their barracks because of the flea infestation. This lack of oversight provided the sisters an opportunity to lead Bible studies. It gave them a chance to freely and openly pray out loud. It gave them the freedom to sing and worship. It is estimated that dozens, perhaps even hundreds of women were led to Christ in the squalor of Corrie and Betsie’s barracks.

Sometimes it is good to thank God…even for fleas.

The mature Christian, even in times of horrible suffering, can and should always be thankful. The Bible is filled with men and women who suffered in unbelievable ways and still managed to praise God and proclaim His works.

Think about Job. He lost everything, his wealth, his children, even his health. His friends accused him. His wife told him to give up. Yet Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

Look at Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold as a slave, and forgotten in prison. But through all those years, Joseph never stopped trusting that God was working. When he finally faced the same brothers who had betrayed him, he didn’t take revenge. Instead, he said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Think of Daniel. Carried off into exile, surrounded by pagan culture, thrown into a den of lions for praying to his God. Yet Daniel’s story says that he “gave thanks before his God,” even when the decree went out that prayer was punishable by death. (Daniel 6:10) Daniel didn’t let fear silence his gratitude.

Then there’s Paul and Silas. Beaten, chained, and thrown into a filthy prison in Philippi. What did they do at midnight? They didn’t moan or complain, they sang hymns to God. And Scripture says the other prisoners were listening. (Acts 16:25) Their praise turned a prison cell into a sanctuary, and their worship led to a jailer’s salvation.

Our ultimate example is of course Christ Jesus. On the night He was betrayed, just hours before the cross, He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. Think about that. He knew the suffering that was coming, yet He still gave thanks.

Ezra the prophet who wrote 1 Chronicles wrote these words in 1 Chronicles 16:23…

1 Chronicles 16:23 CSB

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.”

Brothers and sisters, our gratitude is not dependent on our comfort. Our praise should not require perfect circumstances. Thanksgiving flows from knowing who God is, not just on what He gives.

Oh friends, the foundations of this world will shake but God’s goodness never does. Whatever trial you are having to endure, whatever problem that you are trying to solve, whatever difficulty that you are trying to overcome…

Whether it is sickness, grief, uncertainty, or loss, keep your eyes on Christ. Don’t thank Him, don’t proclaim His works because life is easy, do those things because He is faithful. Always and forever faithful.

3 Practices That Can Enhance Your Gratitude

I. Praise His Name vs.1–2

II. Proclaim His Works vs. 2–3

III. Pursue His Wonders vs. 4–5

So, praise His name. Proclaim His works. The last practice that can enhance our gratitude is this, pursue His wonders.

That’s right, pursue His wonders.

Go back to verses 4 and 5 this morning.

[4] Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! [5] Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered…

“The believer’s heart should continually seek the Lord’s strength and remember His faithfulness through every generation.”

Did you hear that last line?

“Remember His faithfulness through every generation.”

Psalm 105:4 says, “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.” (ESV)

That verse reminds us that gratitude doesn’t grow in idle hearts. A thankful spirit is always in pursuit, seeking God’s presence, chasing His power, and remembering His promises.

But here’s the problem, friends. We often spend our lives chasing things that don’t last. We pursue success, comfort, money, possessions, popularity, or pleasure. None of those things are inherently evil, but they are temporary. Jesus warned us about that in Matthew 6:19–21, saying, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In other words, our pursuits reveal our priorities. What we chase is what we cherish.

Paul echoed the same truth in Colossians 3:1–2: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

So let me ask you this morning, what are you pursuing? Because whatever you seek will shape who you become. If you chase the world, you’ll end up empty. If you chase Jesus, you’ll find joy, peace, and eternal purpose.

Now, let me show you something special. This is my family tree. I know it’s hard to see, but all the Davidson names stretch across this chart. My name and my brother’s name are on the far right. The first name, where all of us Davidsons come from, is on the far left, Joshua Davidson, born in 1807 in Kentucky. He married Asena Manuel, born in 1811 in Tennessee. I did some digging and found Joshua’s father, James Davidson, born in 1764. He married Nancy Isabell, and together they had eight children. Joshua was the baby of the bunch. One of his brothers was named Reuben Davidson, born in 1790. My father’s name is Reuben Davidson, born in 1948. Dad always thought he was named after his grandfather, but no, it goes all the way back to Reuben of 1790 fame.

To show you how different life was back then, Joshua and Asena were quite productive, they had twelve children. But Joshua didn’t die of old age. He died on a wagon train in 1860, headed west, killed by Native Americans. You don’t see that in the obituaries anymore, do you?

The one thing that I noticed about my family tree is this name…”Reuben”. The earliest Reuben is in 1790. The name skips a generation and then hits again in 1887. This time it is Reuben Edward Davidson. This is my great grandfather. It hits again in 1920, Reuben Edward Davidson. This is my grandfather. Then again in 1948, my Dad, Reuben Edward Davidson III. The legacy of that name changes a bit but part of the pattern repeats in 1974 with my brother, Spencer Edward Davidson. Then we get to present day. The legacy of that name again repeats itself in 2005. Jay Edward Davidson. My oldest son.

Generations of men, tied together by blood, by genetics, and by a name.

I kept wondering what drove Joshua to leave Alabama and head west. Was he looking for land? For gold? Was he running from something? By my best guess, the answer is no. What I discovered was that Joshua Davidson was a missionary. He went west to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. He loved the Lord so deeply that he gave his life while spreading the Gospel.

That faith didn’t die with him, it lived on. I saw it in my grandparents reading their Bible together and praying side by side. I saw it in their church attendance, their quiet service, and their legacy of love. And now, that faith echoes in my life and, by God’s grace, in my children’s lives too.

Friends, Joshua Davidson never thought about Stuart Davidson in 2025. I have no idea what he looked like, but the impact of his faith still shapes me today, more than two centuries later.

So let me ask you, what will future generations say about you? What will your great-great-great-grandchildren remember about your walk with Christ? Will they see a legacy of faith or a trail of compromise? Will they remember you for your success, your possessions, or your pursuit of the Savior?

Every one of us is chasing something. The question is, are we chasing what matters? Don’t waste your life pursuing what the world says is valuable. Pursue the Lord, pursue His presence, and pursue His wonders. The treasures of this world fade, but the glory of God endures forever.

Psalm 105:4 calls us again to “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.” May that be the pursuit that defines your life and shapes your legacy.

Change Your Perspective By PRAISING GOD!