In this week of Thanksgiving our attention is on giving praise.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Two words stand out here to me. Continually, means “without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.” So we are to be in a constant state of giving thanks by praise to God.

But what if what’s happening looks very bleak? The person you’re praying for dies. The job you hoped for doesn’t come through. The person you care deeply about continues to run from God.

That’s where the second word, sacrifice, comes into play. Sacrifice of praise is praising God, even when you don’t feel like it. It isn’t easy. It is a choice. It’s a laying down of our will to the One worthy of our praise. It’s a recognition of who He is and that He is. It’s a giving of thanks, even when our hearts are breaking.

It’s not a giving thanks for the situation, but rather a giving thanks to the One who ever watches over us. The One who knows the end from the beginning. The One who we call Almighty God. It’s a recognition of the One in charge.

As my husband of fifty-six years left earth for heaven, everything in me wanted to scream “No!” Instead, a scripture from Job 13:15 and Psalm 86:26, came to mind in the form of a song which I had written.

Yes, Lord, though You slay me,
still Lord, I will praise Thee.
Though all hope be gone,
still I will hope in Thee.
For Thou art my rock,
the God in whom I trust,
the rock of my salvation.

I believe the practice of sacrifice of praise to God has carried me through these past two and a half years and will continue to carry me until my home-going.

Praise and thanksgiving are powerful weapons. When we praise God, the enemy flees. Victories are won. Wrongs are righted. Hearts are healed.

Let us be about praising God with grateful hearts, for He alone is worthy of our praise.

 

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