Scripture tells us that we are to offer up to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

But when is praise a sacrifice?

Praise becomes a sacrifice when we choose to exalt Father in spite of our emotions or even when our situation does not dictate it. In other words, we don’t feel like it, but we do it anyways! When it does not make any sense to praise God in the temporal or the natural, we still praise and magnify the Lord!

One of my all-time favorite Scriptures is Habakkuk 3:17-19,

“Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If the yield of the olive fails, And the fields produce no food, Even if the flock disappears from the fold, And there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will triumph in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like deer’s feet, And has me walk on my high places.”

Because it really comes down to:
Do we have more trust in our situation, or more faith in the power of God?

“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

I once heard a story about Smith Wigglesworth, the plumber turned evangelist during the late 1800s to early 1900s in Britain. When someone would ask him how he was feeling, he would automatically respond, “I never ask myself how I’m feeling. I just get in alignment with God and praise Him.”

Friend, it is easy to praise Him when everything is going well. But when things are contrary, we need to stir ourselves up, recall all of His marvelous promises, and recount every time that He has brought us through. We need to constantly bring our heart and mind into alignment with God’s Word.

Praise shifts the atmosphere and translates us into the realm of the Holy Spirit.

When we just lost our job and are not sure how we will pay the bills – Praise Him anyways.

When we or a loved one is sick or going through a trial –Praise Him like we mean it!

When the world is out of control and has run amok – Sing even louder!

No matter what it appears like, God is faithful.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5 NIV).

Beloved, praise your way to victory!