Praise Him | Aneta Hume

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23 NIV

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:16 NKJ

Praising God is the ultimate end and aim of all we go through. ~Oswald Chambers

Scripture stresses the importance of thanksgiving. Both Old and New Testament emphasizes that above everything else, God wants thankfulness.

We go through our routine of thanking God for our food before we eat; or we may even thank Him when we catch our child as they fall down; or when it stop raining on the day we planned a big picnic; or even during the Thanksgiving holiday we may list out our blessings and reflect on what God has done. However do we really offer the sacrifice of thanks or praise to God continually?

First of all, a sacrifice is something we put effort into—it costs us. I think it means that we are to give thanks in everything, even in a difficult situation when all we want to do is complain and meditate on our hurt or sorrow. The act of sacrificing the thank offering to God, when we do not feel like it at all, will bring forth the“salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23). This “salvation of God” empowers us to overcome selfishness, bitterness or anger; it delivers us from darkness that keeps us trapped. When we stop focusing on ourselves as we lift our face up to look at God to give Him thanks, we are set free from the things that weigh us down. Then we're able to receive the joy that the Lord wants us to have. Giving thanks to Him keeps our focus on God, on what we have in Him, and how blessed we are. 

We have to develop a habit of looking around for things that bring us joy, makes us smile; to stop our busy, hectic lives to “smell the flowers” that are around us. Even when it rains, when the first drops touch the warm ground, they bring this special scent that I love. Let us then train our eyes to see beyond the obvious; let us lift our heads and seek God’s beauty in everything.

Oh, there is so much to write on the subject of thanksgiving, but with this short devotional I hope you will be encouraged to be intentionally thankful and in that you will surely be blessed.