Bring God Pleasure
It’s easy to praise God when everything is going good and people are being nice to us. You got that promotion at work. The kids are doing great. You’re full of health. But what about when you’re facing a challenge, when it doesn’t look like you’re going to have enough? What about when the kids are off course, things are not good at work, and you just don’t feel grateful? That’s exactly when to put into practice the words of Hebrews 13:15: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” A “sacrifice of praise” is something you don’t necessarily feel like doing, but it’s always the right thing to do.
However, the writer of Hebrews didn’t stop there. He added, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” You might look at your bank account and think you don’t have enough, but that’s when God says, “I know how you operate. I’ve designed you. No matter how you feel, if you will continually offer up this sacrifice of praise and not neglect passing on this gratitude to someone else, that’s when you’ll live a life that is fulfilled. That’s when you will please Me.” When you please God, the Scripture says that He will do things for you that you cannot do for yourself. When you please God, He’ll make even your enemies be at peace with you. When you make pleasing God your highest priority, you’ll see your life go to new levels.
The Bible states that we are blessed to be a blessing like Abraham was (Genesis 12:2). It says that “the one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped” (Proverbs 11:25). We are blessed by Almighty God so that we can go out and express our blessings through our actions, not just through our words. I’m not talking merely about material blessings. Yes, God wants you to have more than enough. But I’m talking about those blessings of His favor, influence, peace, joy, fulfillment and purpose—the things that God gives us when we praise Him and show our praise through our actions.
We all need to go out every single day and say, “God, I offer You my sacrifice of praise, and I want to show You my gratitude through loving expressions toward others. Show me how I can bless others today.” That’s what pleases the heart of God.
However, the writer of Hebrews didn’t stop there. He added, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” You might look at your bank account and think you don’t have enough, but that’s when God says, “I know how you operate. I’ve designed you. No matter how you feel, if you will continually offer up this sacrifice of praise and not neglect passing on this gratitude to someone else, that’s when you’ll live a life that is fulfilled. That’s when you will please Me.” When you please God, the Scripture says that He will do things for you that you cannot do for yourself. When you please God, He’ll make even your enemies be at peace with you. When you make pleasing God your highest priority, you’ll see your life go to new levels.
The Bible states that we are blessed to be a blessing like Abraham was (Genesis 12:2). It says that “the one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped” (Proverbs 11:25). We are blessed by Almighty God so that we can go out and express our blessings through our actions, not just through our words. I’m not talking merely about material blessings. Yes, God wants you to have more than enough. But I’m talking about those blessings of His favor, influence, peace, joy, fulfillment and purpose—the things that God gives us when we praise Him and show our praise through our actions.
We all need to go out every single day and say, “God, I offer You my sacrifice of praise, and I want to show You my gratitude through loving expressions toward others. Show me how I can bless others today.” That’s what pleases the heart of God.