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.
