It Has a Good Beat
When I was a member of the choir early in my walk with Jesus, one of the praise choruses we sang was “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” etc. It was light-hearted and catchy. It made you want to tap your toe. That song simply did not evoke any real thoughts of “sacrifice.” (Honestly, as I sat here and ran it through my mind, I started bouncing in my chair.)
Song Wars
Have you ever considered what “sacrifice” in that phrase truly means? For some folks, it means they have to sing songs they don’t want to sing. When I used to sing with the praise team, I would look out, and there would inevitably be one or two folks singing under protest. It was clear by their expression and their posture – frowning, arms crossed, their bodies bristling with displeasure. The sight was sad and comical at the same time.
I saw a lot of this as a new Christian when the church was in the process of going from the hymnal to more contemporary music. Many people considered it a real sacrifice to let go of the music they had grown up with. They had no desire to embrace the new and unfamiliar, even if it meant attracting a younger generation to Jesus. I understand. It’s always easier to live in the land you know with its familiar landscape and beloved memories. Music taps into our emotional history, enabling us to re-experience the pleasures we initially felt when we first sang those songs. It’s hard to let go of the comfort of familiarity and the joy of memories. To leave it behind and embrace the challenge of the unknown and uncomfortable can be a sacrifice of a sort.
However, I don’t believe the psalmist was referring to the music wars of “praise choruses” versus the hymnal. A sacrifice costs something more than our discomfort.
I Will Sing Because I Trust You
I think to praise God sacrificially means to honor him in the darkness before we’ve seen victory. Britain and Katie Torwalt’s song “I Praise Before My Breakthrough” is the perfect example of this thought. To take a stand and praise according to the testimony of past faithfulness as we wait in anticipation.
I also think it means to praise in spite of our disappointments. To come before God like a wounded soldier that’s seen action in the battle with all of our scars, disfigured by the conflicts we didn’t win, and continue to declare his goodness.
To praise sacrificially is to worship in spite of what it’s costing us right at the moment. As the writer of Hebrews expressed, “For we have no city here on earth to be our permanent home, but we seek the city that is destined to come. So we no longer offer up a steady stream of blood sacrifices, but through Jesus, we will offer up to God a steady stream of praise sacrifices—these are “the lambs” we offer from our lips that celebrate his name!” Hebrews 13:14-15 TPT.
To praise in the middle of persecution and injustice, giving up their heritage and all it encompassed to embrace Jesus. Amid their unspeakable and ongoing loss, they praised Him. It was a sacrifice because it cost them everything.
I Will Sing No Matter the Cost
The sacrifice of praise isn’t so much about music, really. It’s about the commitment to believe in and declare God’s promises and faithfulness in spite of what you have or have not seen. To praise when everything is going well is called thanksgiving, but to praise in dark places is an offering of love, faith, and trust and it is, indeed, a sacrifice.
What Do You Think?
When has praising God felt like a sacrifice to you – if ever? What constitutes your time of praise? Is it limited to Sunday mornings or is there more? I’d love to know! Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.
Prayer Matters
I’m praying for friends who have stopped praising because of disappointment and loss. What are you praying for? How can I partner with you?
Thanks for reading my blog. What about you? What are you praying for? Share by commenting or you can contact me privately with any prayer concerns at pastorn1975@gmail.com .
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