Psalm 34:1
I will bless The Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…
• DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Kings 7:3-20; Jonah 2
Blair Monique Walker is an American Gospel singer and Radio host. She has sung background vocals for gospel artists like Smokie Norful, Earnest Pugh, Ted Winn and Beverly Crawford. In 2017 she shared an incredible testimony of her encounter with God’s power.
She was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Her doctors told her she needed a hysterectomy, which is a surgery to remove the uterus. This meant she would not be able to become pregnant in the future. Her surgery was scheduled for October 12th 2017.
During that period, she was dealing with a great deal of physical pain, to the point where she could hardly get out of bed, nor go to church. This situation almost led her to depression. However, her husband, musician Terrence Walker tried to encourage her with words like, “If you’re sad it’s going to be bad.”
Such words encouraged her to switch from sadness to gladness, and to keep trusting God no matter the situation. Though it wasn’t easy, she knew that praise would help her better than depression.
She recalls praying to God while preparing for the surgery. When the day arrived for her to visit her surgeon for a pre-operative visit, she says something amazing happened. The purpose of the visit was for the surgeon to look at an ultrasound of Blair’s uterus to see the size of the cancerous growth. But the doctor was amazed by what he found. There was no tumor! And not only was the tumor gone, there was a baby growing in Blair’s uterus instead. The doctor looked at her and said, ‘It looks like your God removed all of your tumors and left you with a baby,'” what an amazing testimony! God removed her uterine tumor and replaced it with a baby.
Psalms 30:11-12 says ‘You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.’
Indeed God turned Blair’s mourning into dancing!
Through praise, God replaces sadness with gladness. He transforms pain to gain. He takes failure and creates success!
Though challenges are real, they can also become raw material for a divine transformation that God will accomplish in our lives. Indeed the force of praise provokes divine intervention. We escape misfortune and enter into favor when we praise God. God answers your adversaries in the midst of praise.
When we praise God He brings a sudden change of story to us. In the case of Blair, God turned the tumor to pregnancy. Within the exercise of genuine praise is the release of genuine blessings.
Like Blair’s husband told her, ‘if you are sad, it will be bad’. The more depressed you are, the more the enemy will oppress you. But when you turn to praise, God’s Presence is engaged for your deliverance. As we praise God, Romans 8:28 becomes a reality to us; ‘all things work together for good to them that love Him, and to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
You can praise your way out from every form of misfortune to favor. As you begin to praise God, break down will be converted into breakthroughs. Therefore rather than allow frustration to occupy you, occupy God with your praise. Praise excites God. Therefore as you engage the force of praise, expect God to bring about a sudden change of story in your life. Your defeat will be turned into victory. Indeed God will turn your mourning into dancing and your sorrow into joy in Jesus name.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to praise you despite any situation, let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth. As I praise You, I know You are turning my mourning into dancing; and my sorrow into joy in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]