“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Do you know what our greatest weapon is? Let me explain.
There have been days when I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. After a night of fitful tossing, turning, and staring at the ceiling, I was too tired. Overthinking, fear, and anxiety had won out over my need for sleep. I was weary and weighed down by my hurt and heavy heart. I’d begun to question if my difficult season would ever end. I wondered if God really saw my tears and heard my prayers.
The other day, at Bible study, we sang this amazing song, “Raise a Hallelujah,” by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser. And I was reminded that our greatest weapon is worship.
The Bible reminds us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15, NIV.
The Greek word used here for “sacrifice” is “thysia,” which means offering. Thus, the word sacrifice implies a cost, much like the Israelites brought their best animals as offerings to God, and Jesus sacrificed His life for our salvation.
Praising God, or raising a hallelujah, when our hearts are hurt and heavy or our minds are full of anxiety and fear amid our storms, is a sacrifice. It’s hard and comes with a cost. It requires us to surrender control, hold onto faith, and hope God truly sees and cares.
But friend, the Bible assures us that God does indeed see our tears: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle” (Psalm 56:8, ESV). Additionally, God hears our prayers and acts on our behalf, strengthening us along the way. God said, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24, NIV). And David reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NIV).
Therefore, we can rest assured and submit our control, worries, fears, hurts, hangups, and praise God. Miracles happen when we surrender everything and praise the Lord! James tells us why: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NIV). When we raise a hallelujah, our weapon truly is a melody.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this beautiful song. It reminds me that when I offer you the sacrifice of praise and submit to you, the enemy will flee. It reminds me that You are sovereign and the only One who controls my life. Thank you for seeing, loving, and walking with me through the storms. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Further Study:
Bible Verses about Praise And Worship
