It might seem strange to pair the words “sacrifice” and “praise” together, yet that’s exactly what the writer of Hebrews does in Hebrews 13:15:
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
But if we’re honest, it makes perfect sense. Praise isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s often a sacrifice, especially when the weight of the world feels like it’s crushing you.
At its heart, praise is an attitude of gratitude. And in today’s fast-paced world, gratitude often boils down to finding contentment with what we have.
It’s simple to praise when everything is going our way – when life is sorted and all is well. But as we journey through life, particularly as we grow older, praise often becomes less of a natural outflow and more of a deliberate, sometimes difficult, sacrifice. Yet, it’s precisely when we intentionally weave praise into our circumstances that things truly begin to shift.
A Look at Some Sacrifices of Praise
Let’s consider two powerful examples from the Bible who understood the power of sacrificial praise:
- David
David, a man destined for greatness, experienced some of the lowest lows imaginable. Pursued by Saul, abandoned by family – his life was far from easy. Yet, time and again, David learned to turn his gaze away from his troubling circumstances and offer a sacrifice of praise to God. We see him praising when things were at their absolute lowest, and of course, during the highest moments of his life – bringing in the Ark, defeating Goliath.
“Praise is anything but a feeling, it is an action and at times requires us to bring it as a sacrifice to our King.”
- Paul
Another incredible example of sacrificial praise is Paul. As you read through the book of Acts, you can’t help but be challenged by the sheer number of difficulties he encountered on his journey. Flogged, beaten, imprisoned, even left for dead – yet through it all, he displayed an unyielding resilience and continued the mission God had given him.
Consider the intense situation where 40 men vowed not to eat or drink until Paul was no more! These men, driven by their hatred for Paul, never saw him falter or fail to push on ahead with his mission. Paul must have faced moments of despair that we can barely comprehend today. Yet, he still chose to offer a sacrifice of praise in the midst of it all.
Honestly, when we compare their journeys to our own, it highlights just how soft we’ve become.
“Praise is something the Lord has placed inside of us / given us, proving us to be more than we ever thought possible.”
As the song “Praise” by elevation Worship declares, it’s more than just a song; it’s our weapon. It’s a weapon that confuses the enemy and sends him packing. It confuses a world that loves to gravitate towards negativity and those who want to see you fail and break.
The Beginning of Our Praise:
So, how do we begin to cultivate this powerful sacrifice of praise in our own lives?
- Learn to be content and grateful for all that the Lord has already provided.
- Look back at all the ways the Lord has consistently come through for you before – if He did it once, He will do it again.
- Praise the Lord for His consistency and His unfailing character.
- Thank Him for the undeniable fact that He is actively at work in your life, just as it is written:
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” Phillipians 1:6