In all the years that I've been a minister there's one woman that stands out in my mind as an example of integrity in Christ -- that is Polly Tenkotte. She's gone on to heaven now but when she was alive she told me about the very worst time in her life: her husband died, it was the Great Depression, she had four children under age eight, she possessed no work skills, no family to help, and then they all got the flu.
Polly shared God's spiritual lesson she found that week and kept practicing from then onward. It's found in today's Scripture. When she was at her lowest she began praising God in every way she could praise. She would begin her prayers praising God and wouldn't stop praising until she actually felt God lift her spirits.
Praising God is the key!! In difficult times we use Praise to give us new perspective, a fresh spiritual renewal, and a step up to hopefulness.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" Ephesians 1:3
To God be the glory!!
Rev. Patricia E. Walker, AlphaChurch.org