Saturday Thoughts: A Sacrifice of Praise

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:15

Saturday mornings have always seemed to invite a slower pace. There is something about the quiet of a weekend morning that makes it easier to pause, breathe deeply, and notice the things we often rush past during the week. Maybe it's the first cup of coffee, the sound of birds outside the window, the gentle breeze moving through the trees, or simply the gift of having nowhere we have to be for a little while. These quiet moments can become invitations from God to slow down and remember Him. And lately I've been thinking about the word praise.

We often think of praise as something we do when we're in church, when we're singing a beautiful hymn, or when God has answered a prayer we've been praying for a long time. And certainly, those are wonderful reasons to praise Him. But Hebrews 13:15 takes praise a little deeper. It tells us to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. A sacrifice. That word makes me stop. Because if praise is always easy, it doesn't feel much like a sacrifice.

It's easy to praise God when the doctor says everything looks good, when the bills are paid, when our children are doing well, when our relationships are peaceful, and when life seems to be falling neatly into place. But what about the days when we're worried? What about the unanswered prayers, the disappointments, the empty chair at the table, the strained relationship, the diagnosis we didn't expect, or the uncertainty about what tomorrow may bring? Can we praise Him then? I believe that's where our praise becomes something much more than words. It becomes an act of faith.

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” David didn't say he would praise God only when life was going well. He said at all times. That doesn't mean we have to pretend everything is wonderful. Faith doesn't require us to deny our pain. We can be honest with God about our sadness, our disappointment, our fear, and our questions. But even while we are hurting, we can still say, “Lord, I don't understand this, but I know You are with me.”

That is praise.

So what does continual praise actually look like in everyday life? Sometimes it begins with something as simple as starting our morning with gratitude. Before we pick up our phones and begin thinking about everything that needs to be done, we can pause and thank God for three things. They don't have to be extraordinary. Thank Him for another morning. Thank Him for the people you love. Thank Him for the roof over your head, the food in your kitchen, the sunshine coming through the window, or simply the breath in your lungs. Gratitude has a way of changing what we notice.

We can also turn our complaints into conversations with God. We all complain sometimes. It's part of being human. But perhaps the next time we hear ourselves saying, “I can't believe this is happening,” we can stop and add, “Lord, help me through it.” Instead of allowing frustration to have the final word, we can turn our words toward the One who already knows what we're facing.

We can praise God for who He is rather than only for what He does. That's an important distinction. If our praise depends entirely upon receiving what we want, then what happens when the answer is “wait” or “no”? God is still worthy. He is still faithful. He is still good. Psalm 100:5 reminds us, “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

We can also use Scripture when we don't know what to say. There are days when our hearts are so heavy that praise doesn't come naturally. On those days, we can borrow the words God has already given us. We can whisper, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). We can repeat, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). Sometimes Scripture can carry us when our own words cannot. 

And then there is something else we can do: look for God's fingerprints in the ordinary. Maybe it's a beautiful sunrise. A child's laughter. A phone call from someone you love. A bird perched outside your window. The smell of something baking in the kitchen. A cool breeze after a long, hot summer. A quiet moment with your husband. A good book. A cup of coffee enjoyed without rushing. These things may seem small, but small blessings are still blessings.

Sometimes we are so busy waiting for God to do something extraordinary that we fail to notice how much beauty He has already placed in our ordinary days. And perhaps one of the most powerful ways we can praise God is to praise Him before we see the answer. That's difficult. We want to wait until the storm passes before we sing. We want to see the healing before we say thank you. We want the door to open before we declare that God is faithful. But faith sometimes whispers, “I don't see the answer yet, but I trust the One who holds the answer.” Habakkuk expressed that kind of faith when he wrote, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18). Even then. Even when circumstances were uncertain. Even when things weren't going the way he wanted. Yet I will rejoice. That may be the purest kind of praise there is.

So this Saturday, before the week begins again, perhaps we can practice offering God a sacrifice of praise. Not because our lives are perfect. Not because every prayer has been answered. Not because we have everything we want. But because He is worthy.

Take a few quiet moments today and thank God for five things. Write them down if you can. Then think about one difficult circumstance in your life and deliberately place it in His hands. You don't have to understand it. You don't have to know how it will turn out. Simply tell Him, “Lord, I trust You with this.” And then praise Him. Praise Him in the waiting. Praise Him in the ordinary. Praise Him in the uncertainty. Praise Him in the morning and in the evening. Praise Him when the answer comes, and praise Him while you're still waiting for it. Because sometimes the greatest testimony isn't that God changed our circumstances. Sometimes it's that He changed our hearts in the middle of them. And that, my friends, is a sacrifice of praise.

Gracious Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for this quiet Saturday and for the opportunity to slow down and remember that You are good.

Teach me to praise You continually. Not only when life is going the way I want, but when I am waiting, wondering, hurting, and uncertain. Help me remember that my circumstances do not determine Your goodness.

Give me eyes to see the blessings I often overlook. Help me notice the little gifts You scatter throughout my ordinary days. When I am tempted to complain, turn my heart toward gratitude. When I don't know what to say, remind me of Your Word.

And when I am waiting for an answer, give me the faith to praise You before I see it.

Lord, let my life be an offering to You. Let my words bring encouragement, my actions reflect Your love, and my heart remain grateful even when the road is difficult.

Today I choose to praise You, not because everything is perfect, but because You are faithful. You are good. You are present. And You are worthy of my praise.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Everyday Devotionals by Bonnie Annis

Giving yourself a pat on the back

Some days you just need to hear, "Well done!" or "Way to go!" A little praise goes a long way, but when there's no one around to say it, what do you do? If you don't take matters into your own hands, that pat on the back may never come, believe me, I know. 

Today, I worked hard. It's amazing what a good cup of coffee will do for you. I had a long list of projects and by golly, I was going to accomplish as many of them as I could, so I started with number one and began to work my way down. 

Number one took some time. I'd been reorganizing my art studio/craft/sewing room for days. I'd removed all the clutter and had started to move things back in but quickly became overwhelmed. There was so much stuff! Persevering for the next two hours, I was able to scratch number one off the list. 

On to number two. This one would only take a few minutes. I'd made a note to email some friends, write some long overdue notes, and complete an article I'd been working on for a cancer magazine. About thirty minutes passed and number two got crossed off. 

I kept working down my list. There were 7 more items to complete. One by one I tackled them. Finally, at 3:00 p.m. I finished. Whew! What a day it had been, but I felt successful, and it felt good. 

I did my best to reach around and pat myself on the back but couldn't quite do it. The scarring from breast cancer surgery had left me with a limited range or motion. Though I couldn't manage it physically, I congratulated myself mentally. It's amazing the good praise can do. 

Feeling like a well-trained puppy waiting for a yummy puppy snack, I did a little happy dance. Wagging my rear made me laugh. 

Good days have been few and far between lately. There have been so many health issues I'd forgotten what it felt like to have a good belly laugh. 

Earlier today, the skies were overcast and dreary but now the sun is out and shining brightly. With that, I feel a song remnant swirling around in my mind - " I think I can make it now, the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for- It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day."

Yep. 

Choosing Joy even when it's difficult

Being cooped up in the house during the pandemic has been challenging. Until a few days ago, I'd done reasonably well but realized I wasn't myself. Usually, I'm upbeat and happy but I'd found myself struggling with feelings of hopelessness and depression. That's when I realized, I'd lost my joy. 

These days, it's hard to find joy. Being separated from friends and loved ones is awkward and painful, but for someone with cancer related low immunity, it's not only a necessity, it could be detrimental to my health.

We've had a lot of gloomy, rainy days lately, too, due to a hurricane brewing in the Atlantic. Those gray days have also added to feelings of sadness.

I realized I'd experienced these feelings before, when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Back then, my physical maladies caused me to revel in self- pity. I was so me focused, I couldn't see anything else.

It took a while to realize what was happening. Becoming so comfortable with those feelings, I wore them like a heavy, woolen cloak. Days and days, I'd let the weight of that thick garment smother me but then, something happened.

One morning, as I sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee and looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day, I realized I'd lost my joy. The longer I sat there, the more I thought. "Where had my joy gone," I wondered, "And when had I lost it?"

Although I couldn't pinpoint a time and date, I knew it had to have been around the time of my diagnosis because that's when it felt like my world had fallen apart. And though it had been six years since surgery, I was still struggling with my emotions.

That's when I realized I had to do something about it. I had to get my joy back. There was no way I was willing to live under a cloak of darkness.

But I didn't know where to start or what to do. So I began to pray. I asked God to help me find my joy again and in my spirit, I felt Him speak to me, "Praise Me."

I thought I did a pretty good job of that already. I always got up early and spent the first part of my morning with Him. I made sure to spend time in the Word meditating. I always took time to pray but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, I was usually asking God to answer my needs and requests for those I loved rather than focusing on His character, His goodness, His mercy, and His grace.

So I decided that had to change. I was going to find my joy by focusing all my attention on Jesus. To do that, I was going to have to make myself intentionally focus on His love and I was going to have to shift my perspective. I was going adopt an attitude of gratitude.

Looking outside the kitchen window, I saw some beautiful red and white flowers on a plant my son had recently given me. "Thank you, Lord, for your beauty in nature. Thank you that my son wanted to give me a gift. Thank you he chose to come visit me." A few minutes later, two little house wrens jumped on top of my charcoal grill and began to tweet the most cheerful song to each other. "Oh, if I could have joy like that," I said, "Lord, I would be so happy!" Again, He spoke to my heart, "Praise Me."

Picking up my iPhone, I quickly found the My Music icon and asked Siri to find a praise and worship station. I wasn't in the mood for lyrics, so I chose an instrumental station. As I listened, an old familiar favorite began to play, "Bless the Lord, O, my soul" by Matt Redman.

As I listened to the words, my heart began to calm and I felt myself began to weep. All those feelings of pent up sadness began to flee. The light of worship was dispelling the darkness. My heart, in tune with His, was exactly where it should be - He focused instead of me focused.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in seasons where we must hunt for joy. During those times, it's important to be intentional about looking for reasons to express gratitude. Often, it's hard work. When a person is feeling down and depressed, the last thing one wants to do is express thanks. But it's in the thanking that joy explodes. Just like striking a match to a bundle of dry kindling, one small ember gives way to a blazing fire. We must be willing to pick up the match and strike it. To do that, one has to deliberately choose.

I'm so thankful God helped me realize how to regain my joy. My match was tapping on a cellphone app and allowing the words of a song to rekindle the fire of joy inside. As I sang along to the instrumental music, the words ministered to my heart as I praised God.

I made a mental note to choose joy. I knew this would become a discipline in my life but it would take practice. One of the ways I could implement this new exercise into my life would be to start each day by writing down three things for which I was thankful. I chose to end the day the same way.

As I've intentionally searched for reasons to be grateful, I've been able to see more clearly that God continually blesses me each day.

If there are two words I want you to take away from this post, they'd be - CHOOSE JOY. Though they seem simple, they take effort. But if you're willing to work at it, soon you'll find the practice of daily gratitude something you enjoy immensely. Before you know it, it won't seem like work any more, you'll see things and realize His great blessings without much effort at all.

We serve a good, good Father. He enjoys blessing us. That's why I think the psalmist wrote, "But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel." Psalm 22:3

When we worship, the presence of the Lord dwells among us. That feeling of complete peace and love is enough to make any heart sing with joy. Try it! If you've lost your joy, you can find it again. I promise.

Today and every day, choose joy.