Hebrews 13:15 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
(KJV)

I have osteoporosis, and have gone from being 4'11½" tall to 4'7". Though I am small in stature, I know that I have a big God living in me!

I have often been confined to my bed when the pain in my joints and back was severe. Having to lie there surrounded by nothing but the bedroom's four walls was a very bleak picture.

During times of dismal isolation, unlikely names for my prison walls crept into my mind.

Wall number one was, of course, "Tormented Pain"; wall number two, "Hopelessness and Despair"; wall number three, "Dark Lonely Isolation"; but the fourth wall, I could not identify. I had no name to give to that one.

On one exceptionally painful night, bound by Tormented Pain, Hopeless Despair, and Dark Lonely Isolation, the fourth wall seemed to stand out like a neon-lighted sign, and in bold letters, I saw the word, "Praise".

Seeing that, I thought, "Yes, of course, praise!" The bouts with pain had been so intense that I could barely think clearly, let alone praise God. Yet, that is exactly what I needed to do. Today's verse reminded me of "the sacrifice of praise", and at that instant, I knew the name of wall number four — it was "Praise"!

As I began to praise God, I was not miraculously healed physically, but an inner spiritual peace replaced my "Woe is me" with "My God is wonderful, and He loves me!"

Psalm 121:2 – My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. (KJV)

God helped me to remove my focus from me and to direct it back onto Him, remembering that my afflictions are only temporal and are no measure of my God's greatness, joy, peace, and hope. Inner strength returned to me.

God is no less God in the bad times than He is in the good times, and He is worthy to be praised at all times.

It is amazing and encouraging to me to think of all the saints, down through the ages till now, who faced physical afflictions, pain, and even death, yet showed forth what made them different from the world and an example of their unwavering praise and thanksgiving to God. Let's join their ranks and offer to God our sacrifice of praise.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the inner power, strength, joy, hope, and peace that praising You brings. Amen.

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About the author:

Cheryl Mariano (Cheremiah) <cherylmariano@gmail.com>
Casa Grande, Arizona, USA
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