sometimes it's a sacrifice

Hebrews 13:15 talks about the sacrifice of praise.  I think maybe Psalms does, too, depending on the version you use.  

We used to sing a chorus about that.  "We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord."  I always wondered what that meant.  How is praise a sacrifice.  I realize the Lord is honored by it, but it isn't a difficult thing to do... right?

Well, then life got tougher.  And I remember being at church, feeling so low that the last thing I wanted to do was sing.  I wasn't angry at God, but I was broken-hearted and it felt like too much effort to open my mouth and join in the happy tune.  But I did.  I joined in less than half-heartedly.  And as I sang, something strange happened.  The burden began to lift a bit.  The joy seemed to invade my heart just a bit.  It had been very difficult to begin the song.  It had been a sacrifice, but God always blesses our sacrifices.

The Bible also says that God inhabits the praise of His people.  He lives there.  Think on that a bit.  One of the best things for me to do when I am having a hard day, a hard week, or just a bad moment, is to praise Him.  Or at least click a button and listen to someone else praising Him. It never fails. Not once.  My situation doesn't necessarily change, but God moves in -- He lives in praise -- and lifts my burden.

This is my last post on the subject - for now at least.

Keep praising!  Don't let the times, the circumstances or your feeling dictate your response to our great God.