Part 2 of the 4 week series: ‘Gratitude that Transforms: A Journey to Cultivating a Grateful Heart’ [full series here]
focus verses:
Psalm 100:4–5
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
The Welcome Home Moment
I love it when family comes home!
I have four adult children with families of their own, and anytime they come over, they’re greeted with hugs and love. My favorite moments are with the little grands—those tiny footsteps running up the sidewalk as I stand with arms open wide, ready for a swoop-and-squeeze hug.
The older grands still want the hug, though they prefer the “I’m cool” version over my swoop and grab! And yes, there are hugs for my adult kids and their spouses, too.
You might think I don’t get to see them often, but truthfully, three of the families live within an hour of me, so they drop by at least once or twice a month—sometimes more. Then there’s family #4, who travels full-time in an RV. They’ll be coming home soon after more than a year away, and I can hardly wait for that welcome-home moment!
What comes next is just as good: settling into conversation, laughter, and usually a meal together. So much joy and gratitude in all those moments.
When I read Psalm 100:4–5, I picture something similar. Every time I sit with God—opening His Word and entering conversation—I enter the gates to His court. I can just imagine Jesus waiting, arms open, ready to pull me in for a hug.
I enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my tongue…
“Father God, it’s so good to be in Your presence.”
And then, like family gathered around the table, we settle in for conversation and nourishment—feasting on His Word.
Prayer & Presence
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving.”
It’s more than a command—it’s an invitation. Gratitude is how we walk in. It changes prayer from reciting requests to resting in relationship.
Sometimes we treat prayer like a meeting on the calendar: start, speak, end, move on. But God invites something deeper—an ongoing communion.
Gratitude trains our hearts to stay aware of Him between the formal prayers. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
That awareness can look like a whispered thank You in traffic, a quiet sigh of peace between tasks, or a quick pause to recognize His faithfulness before sending a text or stepping into a meeting.
Two-Minute Time Out
Prayer doesn’t need a perfect setting—it just needs a willing pause.
Over the years, I’ve developed a habit I call the Two-Minute Time Out. It’s exactly what it sounds like: two minutes to quiet my thoughts, close my eyes, and bring my focus back to God’s presence.
This isn’t necessarily a prayer—it’s a pause. Sometimes prayer flows from it, but often it’s simply the stillness I need to calm emotions, realign my thoughts, and remember that He’s with me.
These time-out moments are powerful for:
- Beginning your morning or devotional time
- Entering prayer or worship
- When emotions are high or low
- Before making a decision
- Ending the day
- My favorite: setting alarms at 9am, noon, and 3pm for a quick two-minute mindset reset
I created a Two-Minute Time Out Guide that outlines this simple four-step process. You can grab it [here].
Use it to practice pausing regularly—and watch how those small moments grow into a deeper intimacy with God.
Conversation with God – Journaling Prompts
Sit with Psalm 100:4–5 and Colossians 4:2 as a personal conversation with God. Try re-writing a personalized version of the verse either as a note to God from you, or, as a note from God to you.
Extend the conversation by using these prompts to guide a heartfelt discussion between you and God.
- How does my attitude shift when I begin prayer with thanksgiving instead of petition?
- When has a simple “thank You” changed my perspective more than a long prayer ever could?
- When during my day do I most easily lose awareness of God’s presence?
- What would it look like to build small pauses of gratitude into those moments?
Take a deep breath. Thank Him now—for being present in this very moment.
Extend your conversation today with the Gratitude Scripture Journal ➡️ [download link]
Hair Fire Check
When life feels like a hair fire, we move fast and pray faster—trying to get answers instead of getting aligned.
Ask yourself:
- Am I using prayer to offload stress, or to reconnect with His presence?
- When emotions run high or low, do I pause—or plow ahead?
If gratitude disappears in the hurry, it’s time for a time-out.
Heart Fire Moment
Set a timer for two minutes.
Close your eyes.
Breathe in, whispering, “Thank You, Lord.”
Breathe out, releasing whatever you’re trying to control.
After the two minutes, enter His courts with words of praise and gratitude for His presence and fellowship.
Closing Thoughts + Prayer
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being present in every moment. Teach me to pause, to breathe, and to enter Your presence with thanksgiving. Let gratitude become the heartbeat of my day and prayer the rhythm of my renewal.
Closing Thought:
Gratitude doesn’t need a perfect setting—just a willing pause. Step into a two-minute time-out whenever you need to let gratitude lead you back into His presence
Gratitude Playlist
Here’s a Gratitude Playlist to partner with our Gratitude Series this month. Play it all month long to renew your mindset one day at a time.
Full playlist:
Daily Praise and Worship suggestions from the full playlist:
This week, we move deeper into the practice of being present with God: in moments of prayer, silence, listening, and surrender. These featured songs from the playlist will help you linger in His presence, offer your heart to Him, and cultivate gratitude as a lifestyle of communion—not just a fleeting feeling.
Consider using the recommended song for each day when following the daily reflections in the Gratitude Scripture Journal [free download]. Let the recommended song lead you into His presence as praise and prayer.
- Day 1: “Enter The Gates” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt
- Day 2: “My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness” by Keith & Kristyn Getty
- Day 3: “You Are Good” by Israel Houghton
- Day 4: “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
- Day 5: “Be Glad” by Cody Carnes
- Day 6: “Gratitude” by Brandon Blake
Daily conversations to deepen your faith…
Conversations at a Table for Two: Feeding a Hungry Soul.
