Grateful For God's Wonders

Gratitude for God Starts With Wonder — And Ends With Worship

Having strong faith is centered on being grateful people. Grateful for God's Wonders over everything. But gratitude isn't as simple as saying a quick "thank you."

I hear people say all the time, “I’m really grateful.” But as followers of Jesus, gratitude isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we practice. The question isn’t whether we’re grateful, but how we cultivate and express gratitude in our daily lives.

As I prepared this message, I couldn’t escape a simple truth: gratitude begins with wonder. When we stop long enough to notice the works of God—His power, His creativity, His mercy—gratitude becomes the only reasonable response. And if we follow that wonder to its natural conclusion, it always ends the same way:

Gratitude starts with wonder and ends with worship.

Let me show you what I mean.

Grateful for God's Wonders: His Majesty

Psalm 19 opens with one of the most breathtaking truths in all of Scripture:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

Have you ever just stopped and stared at the sky? Daylight and nighttime tell different stories, but both pour out the same message: God is powerful, intentional, and unimaginably creative.

During Army Basic Training in Georgia, I spent hours facing downrange at dusty targets. I remember thinking all I wanted to do was roll over and look up—to stare at the clouds and remember that there was more to life than the dirt in front of me. Even then, creation was preaching a sermon.

Psalm 19 says the heavens “pour forth speech.” The Hebrew word there—yabbia—means to gush out, like a spring of water. Creation isn’t whispering about God; it’s shouting His glory.

God could have created one planet and called it a day, but instead He spoke galaxies into existence. Why? Because He delights in beauty. Because He is a God of abundance. Because He wants us to look up—and wonder.

You may not realize this, but He placed you here, on this planet, at this time, on purpose. When we grasp that, gratitude isn’t hard. It becomes instinctive.

We’re Bills Mafia—we can handle the cold. So go outside this week. Look up. Let the heavens preach to you. Gratitude starts with wonder—and ends with worship.

Grateful for God's Wonders: His Message

Not only did God reveal Himself through creation, but He revealed Himself through His Word. Psalm 33:6 reminds us:

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made…”

The same voice that spoke galaxies into being has been given to us in Scripture. That alone should bring us to our knees.

Psalm 19 continues:

• “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul”

• “The precepts of the Lord... give joy to the heart”

• “The commands of the Lord... give light to the eyes”

Do you feel that when you open your Bible? Does God’s Word refresh you, bring joy, or open your eyes? If not, maybe you’re not reading it for what it is: life itself.

David compared Scripture to two of the most valuable commodities of his day:

Gold — non-corrosive, nearly perfect in conducting power. Honey — sweet, sustains life, never spoils.

We could say it this way:

Gold conducts power. Honey sustains life. God’s Word does both—perfectly.

Every regret I’ve ever had came from ignoring God’s Word. I’ve never once regretted obeying Him. I am incredibly grateful for His message.

Again—gratitude starts with wonder, and ends with worship.

Grateful for God's Wonders: His Mercy

David ends Psalm 19 not with a theological statement but with a prayer:

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

David wasn't perfect. Neither are we. Yet God still called him “a man after His own heart.” What made David different wasn’t sinlessness—it was gratitude. Gratitude led him to repentance, humility, and obedience.

Paul says it plainly in 2 Corinthians 5:14:

“For Christ’s love compels us…”

The cross is the greatest wonder God has ever given. Jesus didn’t just forgive us—He changed us. Gratitude isn't proven by what we say, but by how we live.

Are your choices those of someone who is grateful for Jesus?

Because here’s the truth:

Gratitude that doesn’t change us isn’t gratitude—it's sentiment.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Look up. Open the Word.Remember the cross.

Let your wonder lead you somewhere. Let it shape your schedule. Let it challenge your habits. Let it affect your relationships. Let it alter your priorities.

And above all—

Let your gratitude end in worship.