Overflowing Worship: When Gratitude Spills Out of the Heart

Over the last few weeks, we’ve talked about worthless worship—the kind that looks good on the outside but is hollow inside. In Isaiah 1, God told His people He was tired of their sacrifices and ceremonies. Not because they were doing the wrong things, but because they were doing them with the wrong heart. They were following the rules without love. Going through the motions without meaning.

But when we come to Psalm 145, we find the complete opposite. This chapter shows us what real worship looks like—overflowing worship. It’s not mechanical. It’s not routine. It starts deep inside the heart and spills over in every direction. It’s the kind of worship heaven recognizes—the kind that rises up from a heart that’s overwhelmed by the goodness of God.

1. Praise Starts in the Heart

David begins this psalm with a choice:

“I will extol thee, my God, O King.” (Psalm 145:1)

He doesn’t say I might or I’ll see how the day goes. He says I will.Worship begins with a decision, not a feeling. It’s not something that happens when the music starts—it starts when the heart decides that God is worthy.

When David wrote this psalm, he wasn’t a young shepherd boy anymore. He was an old man looking back over a lifetime of battles and blessings, victories and failures. He had seen God remain faithful through it all. And his conclusion was simple: God is still worthy of praise.

Worship isn’t driven by emotion—it’s directed by devotion. It’s not about how you feel in the moment, but about who He is every moment.

Adrian Rogers once said, “You can’t praise God and stay discouraged.” He’s right. Praise and discouragement can’t live in the same heart. When you lift your eyes to God in gratitude, heaviness begins to lift too.

Maybe this week has been hard. Maybe you’ve got worries that feel heavier than your hands can raise. But if you’ll take a moment each day and say, “Lord, You’re still good. You’re still worthy,” you’ll find that worship begins to overflow again.

2. Praise Spreads to Others

David writes,

“One generation shall praise thy works to another.” (Psalm 145:4)

Overflowing worship doesn’t stop with you—it spreads.When your heart is full of gratitude, it shows up in your home, your church, and even the next generation.

I think about the older saints in our church—those who’ve walked with the Lord for decades. You’ve seen God’s hand guide you through valleys and mountaintops. You’ve seen His faithfulness when life didn’t make sense. You have a story that needs to be told. The next generation needs to hear it and see it.

Talk often about God’s goodness. Let your kids and grandkids catch you bragging on God. Tell the stories of how He answered prayer and made a way when there was no way. Those stories build faith in those coming behind you.

And if you’re younger, ask questions. Learn from those who’ve walked farther down the road of faith. The God who was faithful to them will be faithful to you.

Gratitude is contagious. The more you express it, the more others will too. When your heart bubbles over with praise, it inspires others to join the song.

3. Praise Focuses on Who God Is

In verses 8–9, David turns our attention to the heart of God:

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all.”

That’s who He is. Gracious—He gives what we don’t deserve.Compassionate—He feels our pain and moves toward us in mercy. Slow to anger—He’s patient when we fail.Full of mercy—He forgives and restores completely. And He’s good to all—even to those who don’t acknowledge Him.

We live in a world that feels unstable. But when we worship, it reminds us that our God still reigns. His kingdom is everlasting. His dominion endures through all generations. Worship lifts our eyes from the chaos around us to the Christ above us.

When life feels uncertain, focus on God’s character instead of your circumstances. Gratitude will follow close behind.

4. Praise Rests in His Care

David says,

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14)

The same God who holds the universe together holds you. He lifts those who stumble. He raises those who are weighed down. He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.

Maybe you’ve been carrying burdens alone. Maybe you’ve felt forgotten. Verse 18 reminds us:

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him.”

He’s near. Right there in the hospital room, in the quiet nights, in the uncertainty. You don’t need fancy words—just an honest heart. “Lord, help me.” That’s enough.

When you trust His care, you’ll find peace replacing worry. You’ll realize that thanksgiving and trust go hand in hand.

5. Praise That Never Ends

The psalm closes just like it began:

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:21)

David starts the chapter saying I will praise, but ends with let all flesh bless His name. What began as one man’s song becomes a choir that stretches across generations.

That’s the beauty of overflowing worship—it’s contagious and eternal.When our hearts are full of gratitude, our worship goes up to God, it goes out to others, and it goes on forever.

Living It Out

This Thanksgiving season, don’t let gratitude stay locked up in your heart. Let it overflow.

Here are three simple ways to put this into practice:

1. Thank God for something specific every day. Write it down or say it out loud. Gratitude grows when you name your blessings.

2. Speak God’s goodness to someone who needs encouragement. A simple word about His faithfulness might be what someone else needs today.

3. Rest in His care. Stop trying to carry everything yourself. He’s already offered to take the weight.

   
   

When you live that way, thanksgiving stops being a date on the calendar and becomes a way of life.Your heart overflows.Your witness shines brighter.And your worship never stops.

Because no matter the season, no matter the struggle—God is still worthy of praise.

This is from the first of three sermons in a Thanksgiving series on Sunday evenings at Liberty Baptist Church. Listen to the entire message and find the rest of them on our Youtube page.