I’ve joined my blogging friends for a new facet of my blog, called His Encouragement, inspiring scriptures shared each Thursday. My hope and my prayer is that these scriptures each week will bless your heart and encourage your soul.

And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.

Leviticus 22:29 KJV

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving?

In old testament times, the children of Israel were given very specific instructions for the different types of sacrifices that they needed to offer. God commanded these sacrifices to be done for sanctification and for forgiveness.

I decided to study out this phrase “sacrifice of thanksgivings.” God gave a specific set of instructions for this type of sacrifice, but then He said this, “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.”

I thought the last part of this verse was very interesting. God states that a sacrifice of thanksgiving was to be given “at your own will.” This sacrifice could be given whenever you felt like it was appropriate.

But I think it also means that no one else could make you do it or do it for you.

Thankfulness must come from your own heart or its not true thankfulness. No one else can make you be thankful or feel thankful.

So, we don’t offer physical burnt offerings anymore, so how does this apply to us today? Thankfulness to God must come from your own heart. And it’s a sacrifice.

Why?

Because it’s not always easy.

Sometimes it can be hard to be thankful. We can feel like we have nothing to be thankful for, but its not true. We have so much to be thankful for. We are blessed beyond measure even when we don’t realize it.

Take a moment to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God today. Even if it’s hard.

What scripture is encouraging you today? Share it with us!

Check out these other blogs for more encouragement from God’s word for your Thursday.

Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective 

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Becca @ The Becca Files

Jenny @ Author Jenny Lynn

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Edits & Reviews by Leslie