Praising God is a spiritual sacrifice, an acceptable offering that pleases Him. By Him, Christ, let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Praise is a form of spiritual worship that helps us stay focused on God. It was the continual responsibility of the Levitical priesthood to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening. King David set an example by praising God seven times each day, teaching us to praise God continually or be prepared to do so at any time. Praise can be offered in various forms: singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, speaking, or praying. God enjoys them all, provided they are based upon spiritual truths and principles and presented in humility. As a spiritual sacrifice, praise is a specific duty that we, as a royal priesthood in training, are required to perform. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Offering up the spiritual sacrifice of praise to God is not to be taken lightly. It is our duty to offer praise continually with a sincere and dedicated attitude. We proclaim His virtues, showing the excellencies of all that He does. There are innumerable attributes and characteristics for which we may praise the Almighty God of heaven, such as the Eternal's purity and righteousness, the beauty of holiness, and His marvelous works in creation. We should praise Him for the power needed to create and sustain all of the physical and spiritual realm, for His uniqueness and faithfulness, for His name and His goodness, for His involvement in His plan of salvation, and for revealing to us His Word. The number of things for which we can praise the Eternal God is unlimited. Our mental attitude is critically important in properly praising the Eternal; without the right attitude, our praises are unacceptable to the Almighty, but acceptable sacrifices of praise are pleasing to God. The spiritual sacrifice of praise is an act of offering to God acknowledgment of His attributes, an act of spiritual worship that helps us to stay focused on Him. Our duty as a royal priesthood is to continually offer the spiritual sacrifice of praise to God. Praising God is so important that it stands as a dominant theme, and we have so many reasons to praise our holy and righteous God.

The book of Psalms is fundamentally a collection of songs that offer praise to God. Known by the Jewish title Tehillim, meaning Songs of Praise, the Psalms emphasize this central theme. Among them, Psalm 145 stands out as the only one specifically titled A Praise, derived from the Hebrew word Tehillah, highlighting its role as a model of praise within the collection. The root of these terms, Hallel, is also found in the word Hallelujah, which translates to praise Jah or praise the Eternal, underscoring the call to glorify God. This theme of praise, or Hallel, permeates the entire book, appearing over 100 times and growing in intensity from the beginning of Book I to the climactic end of Book V. Throughout the Psalms, praise is a recurring motif, evident in various passages. In Psalm 7, the psalmist concludes with a stirring praise to God and His name. Psalm 18 declares that God is worthy to be praised, while Psalm 48 opens with the acknowledgment of God's greatness and His deserving of praise. Psalm 96 reinforces this by noting that God is greater than all other gods of human creation, thus meriting praise. Psalm 113 urges continuous praise throughout waking hours, affirming God's worthiness, and Psalm 145 extends this into the superlative, portraying God as beyond greatness and supremely deserving of praise. The theme of praise crescendos in the concluding psalms, particularly in Psalm 136, known as The Great Hallel or The Great Praise, where every verse ends with a declaration of God's enduring mercy. Psalms 146 through 150 each begin and end with Hallelujah, culminating in Psalm 150, which issues thirteen consecutive commands to praise the Lord. This psalm calls upon angels, heavenly bodies, and everything in the heavens to praise God for their creation and assigned roles, acknowledging His unique power as Creator. Praise extends to earthly creation as well, with all things on earth called to glorify God for His works and care. The focus narrows to Israel and His saints, who are urged to praise Him for the special relationship and nearness they share with Him. This progression from the distant heavens to the intimate connection with His people illustrates the comprehensive scope of praise, emphasizing that God is with His people and deserves acknowledgment for His personal and individual acts of care. A specific section of Book V, Psalms 113 through 118, is designated as the Hallel, meaning The Praise. These six psalms form a continuous song of praise, often associated with significant festivals like Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. They are recited during these times, particularly during the Passover, evoking imagery of redemption and God's mighty acts, such as the exodus from Egypt described in Psalm 114. The Hallel psalms collectively praise God for His role as the ultimate Redeemer, highlighting His efforts to bring freedom to the needy, enslaved, and sinful. Psalm 113 sets the tone for the Hallel, commanding praise for God's character and redemptive acts from sunrise to sunset and forevermore. It portrays God as sovereign above all, yet humble enough to care for the lowly, lifting them to honor and granting the barren a family, reflecting His desire for children. Psalm 114 praises God's overwhelming power in redeeming Israel from Egypt, making them His sanctuary and dominion. Psalm 115 calls for glory to God's name for His mercy and truth, contrasting the living God with lifeless idols and urging trust in Him as the ultimate source of help and blessing. Psalm 116 offers praise for deliverance from death, symbolizing God's redemption of His saints from a worldly life to a sanctified one, culminating in eternal praise. Psalm 117 extends the call to praise to all nations and peoples, emphasizing God's merciful kindness and the unity of mankind in glorifying Him. Finally, Psalm 118, as a thanksgiving psalm, unites various groups—Israel, the priesthood, and all who fear God—in praising His endu

Giving thanks is something God expects and indeed requires of His people. The key is whether the thanks is given to Him or to demons. The one is truth and leads to greater truth and liberty; the other is idolatry and leads to greater enslavement and death. Thanksgiving arises from gratitude and, in turn, brings forth praise. Praise means to value or express a favorable judgment of, requiring thinking and evaluating. Thus, praise is the joyous expression of thoughtful gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings, help, or favors given, all rooted in thinking directed toward God. Unless the mind is exercised daily in this, it will not be in the habit of thinking of God in relation to blessings, leaving it virtually empty of thoughts of gratitude, thankfulness, and praise. The Bible links thanks and praise so closely that they almost seem to be the same thing, though they are not. Praise grows out of thanksgiving, moving from being grateful to God to extolling, lauding, commending, and acclaiming Him for His works, purpose, and nature. This process is described as a sacrifice, giving up time, energy, and effort to think about, thank, and praise God for the good He has done, rather than taking it for granted as a right or privilege. If God is real to us, we will see concrete evidence of His work on behalf of His purpose in the world, in the church, in our lives, and in others' lives. Giving thanks is a response to the recognition of what God is, what He has shown us of Himself, and what He has done for us and others. If we are not giving thanks, it is because we either do not recognize or refuse to acknowledge these things. Therefore, the appeals to give thanks are exhortations to consciously recognize these elements.