This past week, I was listening to a sermon when I heard a statement that caught my attention. During his preaching, the man of God said, “an offering of praise.”
I don’t know why but this statement won’t leave me. I have meditated several times on the act of a praise offering. I’m not talking about praising God…
In this I mean, to give God an offering, not for something, not sowing a seed for a particular thing – but simply giving to Him to say “thank you for all you do for me, I give praise for YOU. I give praise for Jesus and the Holy Spirit with this offering.”
In the Word of God, there were various offerings that must be given at different times of the year. Yet, we find, there was one offering that was different.
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 it says, whoever’s heart is moved, can bring anything they want before the Lord, specifically for the work of the Lord. This week, as I heard this statement, my heart was moved to give an offering of praise to my God. 
The Word of God says God will bless those who make such a sacrifice to Him, because it is “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Num 15:3) out of a generous spirit and with no other motives.
My offering was given with a generous spirit and no other motive other than to give God praise. To thank Him for who He is in me and who I am in Him. To praise Him for the things He has done in my life as well as the things I know He is going to do for me. It is my great hope that my offering 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 prays to God, “Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules,” (Psalm 119:108)
Psalm 119:108 in the Passion Translation says it this way; ‘Lord, receive my grateful thanks and teach me more of how to please you.’ I love that, don’t you!
I know we all sow seeds for different things, I do it myself every single week. But have you ever thought about a praise offering to God? I know I hadn’t until I heard this message. I sow seeds when I have a need. I sow seeds to help others. I sow seeds to give to ministries. Yet, I have never sown a seed just because I love and praise God.
It is a way to offer up to God 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 life, for all He has already given us…for that my friend, is much.
I don’t know about you, but this teaching really blessed my heart – I hope it does yours as well.
Let’s just praise God, shall we? Father, today, we give you praise. We thank You for all You are in our lives, 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.
Appoint My Days
I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life – spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.
John 10:3-5;14-16, 27; John 14:15
