Sermon: “Loved & Heard – The Power of a Grateful Heart”
Bible Verse: “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2
Psalm 116:1-19
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
10 I trusted in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”
12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Have you ever cried out to God and wondered if He was listening? The psalmist in Psalm 116 didn’t write from a place of ease—he wrote from the depths. “The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me” (v. 3). Yet his song erupts with joy because in that desperate place, he discovered two life-altering realities:
- God LISTENS – “He has heard my voice.” Not just a polite nod, but full attention to your rawest cries.
- God LEANS IN – “He has inclined His ear.” The Hebrew natah means to bend down, stretch toward. Picture a father crouching to hear his toddler’s whisper—that’s your God!
This isn’t abstract theology. It’s the raw testimony of someone who:
- Felt abandoned but found God present
- Faced death but experienced deliverance
- Poured out messy prayers and received mercy
Last week, many of us carried:
- Prayers that seemed to hit the ceiling
- Pain that made us doubt God’s care
- Burdens we thought we had to bear alone
But today, Psalm 116 thunders: Your cries don’t echo unheard—they stir the heart of God! Whether you’re in the pit or on the mountaintop, He’s bending low to meet you. Let’s discover why this truth makes us love Him more.
-
He Hears Your Desperate Prayers (v.1-2)
“I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice.” This passionate declaration comes from a place of deep personal experience, not religious theory. The psalmist isn’t reciting doctrine—he’s testifying about a God who meets us in our messiest moments. When prayers felt too weak to utter, God listened. When words came out jumbled and raw, God leaned in closer.
The prophet Elijah understood this at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36-38). Facing 450 false prophets, he didn’t deliver some polished theological discourse. His entire prayer was just 63 Hebrew words—a desperate cry for God to reveal Himself. And fire fell. This shows us God’s priority: God doesn’t care about fancy words. He wants your real, honest heart. Just talk to Him like you would to a close friend – He listens to every word, even the messy ones. Your simple, true prayers mean more than perfect speeches.
Here’s what this means for you today:
- Your midnight tears are collected in God’s bottle (Psalm 56:8)
- Your wordless groans are translated by the Spirit (Romans 8:26)
- Even your angry, confused, or broken prayers pierce heaven’s veil
Practical Response:
- Stop spiritual editing – God isn’t impressed by religious-sounding prayers; He’s moved by real ones.
- Try journaling raw prayers – This week, write one completely unfiltered prayer. Date it. Watch how God responds.
God hears every desperate prayer—your whispers, your cries, even your silent tears. When words fail, His love understands. You’re never ignored, never forgotten. Bring Him
your brokenness and watch Him turn it into beauty. Keep praying—your breakthrough is coming!
-
He Delivers You from Death (v.3-8)
“The sorrows of death surrounded me… Then I called upon the Lord: ‘Deliver my soul!'” The psalmist’s cry reveals a profound truth: God’s deliverance isn’t limited to physical death—it extends to every form of spiritual, emotional, and relational despair that feels like death.
Modern-Day Deliverance Looks Like:
- Depression’s heavy grip losing its hold (“You have delivered my soul from death” v.8)
- Addiction’s relentless chains being shattered (“My feet from falling” v.8)
- Hopelessness’s suffocating weightlifting (“Return to your rest, O my soul” v.7)
- Dead dreams being resurrected
- Broken relationships finding reconciliation
The Paradox of Deliverance:
Notice—the psalmist wasn’t spared from the pit; he was rescued out of it (v.8). God often allows us to walk through the valley so we can experience His power to bring us through. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we encounter God in the fire (Daniel 3:25), not just from it.
This Changes Everything:
Your current crisis isn’t proof of God’s absence—it’s the platform for His deliverance. That thing that feels like your end? It’s about to become your testimony.
Your Turn:
- Name Your “Death” – Identify one area where you need resurrection (e.g., a dead marriage, a dead-end situation).
- Pray With Raw Honesty – Like the psalmist, cry out: “Lord, deliver me!”
- Watch For the Lift – God doesn’t leave His children in the pit. Your deliverance is coming.
“Call to Me in your darkest hour—that’s when I’m closest.” God (Psalm 34:18)
-
He Invites Your Grateful Response (v.12-14)
“What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” This question reveals the natural response of a rescued heart. Notice what the psalmist doesn’t say: he doesn’t ask how to pay God back, because grace can’t be repaid-only celebrated.
Two Transformative Responses:
- The Sacrifice of Praise (v.17)
- Not just thanksgiving for victories, but worship in the valley
- Like Paul and Silas singing at midnight in prison (Acts 16:25)
- This kind of praise:
Silences the enemy
Shifts atmospheres
Activates divine intervention
- Public Testimony (v.14,18)
- Not private gratitude but proclamation before God’s people
- Like the healed leper who returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17:15-19)
- Your story:
Validates God’s faithfulness
Stirs faith in others
Completes your healing
Why This Matters:
- Your praise isn’t the price for deliverance – it’s the proof you’ve received it
- Every testimony releases a ripple effect of faith (Revelation 12:11)
This Week’s Challenge:
- Praise First – Start each day with thanksgiving before presenting requests
- Share Specifically – Tell one person how God has helped you (be detailed)
- Record It – Keep a “thanksgiving journal” of God’s interventions
“Your breakthrough isn’t complete until it’s declared. What God has done for you isn’t just your story – it’s someone else’s survival guide.”
Turn Your Testimony into A Weapon:
- Your praise terrifies hell
- Your story dismantles doubt
- Your gratitude paves the way for more
Encouraging Message
Beloved, whatever valley you’re walking through today, hear this: Your story isn’t over yet! The same God who heard the psalmist’s desperate cry is bending low to listen to you right now. Those tears you’ve cried in secret? He’s collected every one (Psalm 56:8). That burden that feels too heavy? His shoulders are broad enough to carry it (Matthew 11:28).
Remember – our God specializes in resurrection! He brought:
- Lazarus from the tomb
- Israel through the Red Sea
- Jesus from the grave
And He’s able to breathe new life into your dead places too!
This week, I challenge you to:
- Pray honestly – God isn’t afraid of your raw emotions.
- Praise expectantly – Worship while you wait for a breakthrough.
- Proclaim boldly – Your testimony will set others free.
“The pain you’re feeling today is the birthplace of your powerful testimony tomorrow.” Don’t give up! Your deliverance is closer than you think. That situation that looks impossible? It’s just an opportunity for God to show His mighty power in your life.
Self-Examination This Week
This week, take time to reflect on your relationship with God through the lens of Psalm 116. Ask yourself:
- Have I been honest with God?
- Did I bring my real struggles to Him, or did I hide behind “spiritual” words?
- “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23).
- Where do I need deliverance?
- Is there a “death valley” I’ve accepted as permanent (depression, fear, addiction)?
- “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15).
- Have I thanked Him publicly?
- Did I share even one testimony of God’s faithfulness this week?
- “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2).
Challenge:
- Write down one area where you’ve doubted God’s nearness. Now burn or tear it up as an act of faith.
- Text/Call one person and share how God has helped you in the past.
- Praise first – Before asking for anything today, thank God for 3 specific blessings.
“Your honest reflection today becomes your powerful testimony tomorrow. Don’t skip this step!”
Conclusion:
As we close, let this truth sink deep: You are fully known, fully heard, and fully loved by God. Psalm 116 isn’t just ancient poetry—it’s your living reality. The God who bent low to rescue the psalmist is the same God who:
- Stops to hear your whispered prayers today
- Stretches out His hand to pull you from your pit
- Stirs your heart to respond with explosive praise
This week, you have a choice:
- Keep carrying burdens God wants to lift, or
- Run to the Father who’s already leaning in to help
Your story isn’t over—it’s being rewritten. That situation that looks like a dead end? It’s about to become a divine detour to victory.
Final Challenge:
- Before bed tonight, pray one completely honest prayer (no filters!).
- Tomorrow, tell someone: “My God hears me!”
- All week, wear gratitude like armor against doubt.
“The Lord has heard my cry—and He will hear yours too. Now go live like you believe it!”
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, humbled that You—the God of the universe—stoop down to hear our prayers. Thank You for never dismissing our cries, even when they’re messy or desperate. Forgive us for the times we’ve doubted Your nearness in our pain.
Lord, deliver us from every ‘death valley’—break the chains of addiction, lift the weight of depression, and resurrect the dreams we’ve buried. Give us courage to pray honest prayers this week, and eyes to see Your deliverance at work.
Ignite a spirit of praise in us, even in the waiting. Help us declare Your goodness boldly, knowing our testimonies can spark faith in others. May our lives shout: ‘God hears! God saves! God restores!’
We claim Psalm 116’s promise today—that because You’ve heard us, we’ll keep calling on You all our days. Thank You for turning our struggles into stories of grace. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!”
Benediction:
“May you leave here certain of this: You are never invisible to God. Your prayers never go unheard. Your pain is never wasted. Walk in that hope and watch what He does next! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
God bless abundantly.