A Sacrifice of Praise And Thanksgiving
There are different seasons and circumstances we find ourselves in as we go through life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches us that no matter what we are facing, no matter the circumstance, we should be thankful to God. Thanksgiving isn’t something you do when you have just received an alert, promotion or good news. In times of triumph and tragedy, when things are going on well and when we are faced with a problem, the fruit of our lips should be a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15).
A sacrifice is an offering presented to God. In Old Testament times, people used to offer various animal, fruit and grain offerings and sacrifices to God to express thanksgiving, to receive forgiveness of sin, or as a sign of fellowship with God. Some of these offerings were voluntary, some were mandatory.
Today, God requires a deeper form of sacrifice from us. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells us to place our very lives before God as an offering, which is a spiritual act of worship to God. Instead of pouring out the blood of animals as a sacrifice to God, God wants us to pour out sacrificial praises from our lips to Him. More important than burnt offerings and sacrifices is obeying the Lord (1 Samuel 15:22).
Praise is a sacrifice because it isn’t always easy to praise God. There are times that you sow praises in tears, times that it is with weeping and a heavy heart that you offer praises to God. The beauty of such times is that though you are sowing in tears; though you are praising and being thankful in the face of a storm, you will surely reap songs of joy (Psalm 126:5-6).
One day of sincere, heartfelt praise can do great wonders in our lives. In one day, Paul and Silas praised God and the prison doors opened, the chains holding them down gave way, the jailer and his family were saved. Paul and Silas were locked down in a prison, held bound by chains, but that tough and uncomfortable situation couldn’t keep them silent. That was indeed sacrificial praise. Paul and Silas lifted up their voices in praise and prayers to God and saw a mighty demonstration of the power of God. Praise releases you from every prison the enemy has locked you in. Praise is a potent weapon of warfare (2 Chronicles 20: 22, Acts 16:25-26). Don’t allow any difficult door before you seal your lips, don’t allow any shackle keep you silent. Your victory is in your praise, so lift up a sacrifice of praise to God. Thank God even when it looks like there’s nothing happening in your life. Don’t let what you don’t have or what is happening around you overwhelm you to the point that you forget God’s benefits and goodness. Be thankful, God is good! Jesus gave thanks to God and there was an increase; there was so much to eat and plenty left over (John 6:1-13). You don’t increase what you have by grumbling and being ungrateful. You step into increase as you stay thankful!
Praise and thanksgiving shifts your focus from the problem to God. If Paul and Silas thoughts were just revolving around the prison doors and chains, they wouldn’t have seen a need to give God praise. Focusing on a problem brings fear and anxiety, focusing on God gives hope, builds faith, magnifies God and makes the problem look so small next to God. Praise is a faith booster, a fear and doubt quencher (Psalm 34:1-3).
Praise and thanksgiving lifts up your spirit, it puts a cheer in your heart and a smile on your face. Don’t be silent, give God praise to drive away and overcome sadness, discouragement and depression (Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5).
Praise and thanksgiving invites the power and presence of God into your situation, and where God’s power and presence is, there are blessings, testimonies and miracles. Praise opens you up to divine possibilities in the midst of impossibilities (2 Chronicles 20:18-22). No wall of Jericho; no obstacle and barrier, can resist the glory and power of God that comes down as God’s people worship Him in spirit and in truth.
No matter the threats of your enemies, no matter what the enemy brings your way, refuse to be silent. Your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving can send confusion into the camp of your enemies; to all those that don’t want to see progress in your life, to all those that are plotting to harm and hurt you.
May our lives be full of blessings, testimonies and overwhelming victories as we refuse to be silent, but keep offering sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God.
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