“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”  Hebrews 13:15

As I was reading through Psalms in the NIV, a new aspect of an old truth leaped out at me. Ps 50:15 has often been called “God’s telephone number:” “…call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.” But, the preceding verse gives two conditions to be fulfilled before we call upon the Lord in our day of trouble. “Sacrifice thank offerings, fulfill your vows in the Most High, and [then] call upon the Lord….”

First we are to give thanks in all.

Then we are to obey what we know to be right.

And third, we are to call on God as our first resort, not the last.

“Sacrifice thank offerings”—this points to the fact that to give thanks in and for all things is not an easy, inexpensive response. It can require great self-denial and sacrifice. In difficult, disappointing, painful situations it requires going against our emotions, sometimes against logic, and usually against the opinion of the crowd. But it opens the way for the Lord’s helping us.

To offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving is getting up the shield of faith, so we can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one: fear, worry, anger, jealousy, and lust, among others. Giving thanks focuses us on God, the fact He has a plan and calls us to holiness. This focus makes these temptations fade in power, and as we look to Him we can quench these fires.

Just call God’s phone number and see his help roll in!