Using the Praise Cure
One day, while listening to a sermon, I heard a statement that caught my attention. The man of God used the expression "an offering of praise."
Just this past weekend, one of our partners sent me a prayer request. She had many things going on in her life that were causing her distress. Therefore, she needed agreement in prayer. However, before I could even answer, she sent another email and said she had decided to use the "praise cure." Instead of complaining and becoming distraught, she chose to praise God. The weight lifted as she did this, and she felt peace again.
Praise is powerful! It is powerful as a cure for distress, and it is powerful as an offering to the Lord. The Bible teaches about different kinds of offerings, and mentions a praise offering.
The phrase "an offering of praise" has stayed in my mind. I have meditated several times on the act of a praise offering. By this, I mean to give God an offering. The offering is not for something. We aren't sowing a seed for a particular thing but simply giving it to Him to say, "Thank You for all You do for me. I give praise to YOU. I give praise to Jesus and the Holy Spirit with this offering."
In the Word of God, various offerings must be given at different times of the year, but there was one different offering. Exodus 35:29 says, "All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord."
As the passage above tells us, whoever's heart is moved, they can bring anything they want before the Lord, specifically for the work of the Lord. As I heard this statement, my heart was moved to give an offering of praise to my God. (Photo via Flickr)
A Pleasing Sacrifice
The Word of God says that He will bless those who make such a pleasing sacrifice to Him because it is "a pleasing aroma to the Lord" (Numbers 15:3) when it's done out of a generous spirit and with no other motives.
My offering was given with a generous spirit and no other motive than to give God praise. Therefore, I hope it was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
I love what David wrote in the Psalms: "With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good" (Psalm 54:6). Later he prayed to God, "Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me Your rules" (Psalm 119:108).
The Passion Translation says it this way: "Lord, receive my grateful thanks and teach me more of how to please You" (Psalm 119:108).
I know we all sow seeds for different things; I do it myself all the time. Next time we give, may we give an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Let's offer up to Him an offering that will be a pleasing aroma to the Lord out of a generous spirit and no other motive, only to praise Him for all He is in our lives, for all He has already given us; for that, my friend, is much.
Father, today we give You praise. We thank You for all You are in our lives, and for who we are in You. We praise You for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit. You are a good and awesome God. We give You praise.
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Kim Potter
A New Thing Ministries
Email:Â Kim@anewthingministries.com
Website:Â www.anewthingministries.com
Kim Potter is the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to over 10,000 people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim's message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged and disappointed by the circumstances of life and imparts the desire and ability to stand against all odds; to stand for victory. She encourages people to press into God and discover that He is who He says He is.
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