The above verse says that we are to continually offer a sacrifice of praise unto God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” Where God’s people under the old covenant were to bring a blood sacrifice as an offering of worship, now they are to still to bring a sacrifice but one of of praise giving thanks to His name, instead of blood. The blood sacrifice has been forever paid with the precious blood of Jesus. 

When we make a conscious decision to praise God no matter what, even though we may be going through a night season in our lives, God brings His Joy and His Peace and we enter into that rest which is ours as children of God. Sometimes heaviness of spirit will rob us of God’s joy. We are to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It says in Is. 61:3 “To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” A spirit of heaviness is a mood or attitude of depression, gloominess, or the blues. The word “garment” in Hebrew shows praise as more than a piece of clothing casually thrown over the shoulders. It literally teaches us to “wrap or cover” ourselves. The garment of praise is to leave no openings through which hostile elements can penetrate. This garment of praise repels and replaces the heavy spirit.

There is a literal epidemic of depression in our world today. People are down – people have got the blues – people are discouraged, people are in despair. But God can remove our mourning and turn it into joy as we decide to bring a sacrifice of praise. David is a great example of a man bringing praise to God in spite of the circumstances surrounding him. In Psalm 57:7-9 he says “⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. ⁸ Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. ⁹ I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.” David said this while hiding from Saul in the Cave of Adullam. He had an unshakeable trust in God. This trust enabled him to sing praises during the years of waiting and uncertainty. Faith and confidence in God gives the believer the ability to see the hand of God in what seems nothing but tragedy to others. Faith also gives us the strength to praise God and “acclaim the Lord’s Majesty when every earthly hope is lost.

Are there times when you feel like you are alone and appear to have no-one to support you in your ordeal? In 1 Samuel 30:6 we read, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord His God.” David was certainly in a depressing situation. So what did he do? - he encouraged himself in the Lord.

Once you receive joy from the Lord, you have to continue to enjoy it. Don’t expect other people to keep you excited, to make you happy, or to encourage you. They will let you down. You cannot expect your Senior Pastor or those in leadership to always have words of encouragement. Sometimes they will say or do things that will cause you to be discouraged. Sometimes you just have to encourage yourself. In Psalms 42:5, David says “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: Therefore do I remember thee ...” The point is this – you and I must control our emotions. We must rule over them. We don’t have to give in to moods. We must take charge!

Challenge

Will you make a decision to praise and honour God in spite of how you feel? Will you encourage yourself in Him when it seems you are all alone and no-one else is there to stand with you?

Prayer

Lord, give me a heart that brings praise to You continually. Let my lips show forth Your praise no matter what the circumstances I am facing or how I am feeling.

Rod Best