When I’m in need, I want God to hear my cry. When I’m in grief or in fear, I want Him to tune me in. When I’m in trouble, I want the Lord to give me consideration.

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation” (Psalm 5:1).

Yes! That is what I want! Unless He does that for me, I am finished.

But what about when I have plenty and all is going well? I wonder if I would be so anxious for God to pay attention to my thoughts.

And what about when I am angry or vengeful or offended? I may not want God tuning me in or taking me very seriously then!

As I consider what to write in this paragraph to wrap this up, I remember Psalm 19:14 . . . .

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

No more sacrifices!

At least, no more Old Testament sacrifices. No more killing a lamb for this or two doves for that. No more offering up the first wheat or the best grapes or the tastiest olives.

The time of such sacrifices is past, their purposes having been fulfilled in Jesus.

But I still have a type of sacrifice to offer:

“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness…” (Psalm 4:5).

My right living is a sacrifice to God and for God.

When I choose to be kind rather than to be mean or to ignore, I offer a sacrifice to God.

When I do my duties and do them well, I sacrifice to God.

When I obey, cooperate, submit, pray, encourage, commend, and on and on…I bring a sacrifice to God.

In other words, doing right and living the Christ life is a sacrifice of righteousness.