Trading Beauty for Ashes
Stop looking for something you'll never find.
I’ve always been fascinated with the idea from Isaiah 61: Beauty for ashes.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT)
We pray for our nation, families, churches, communities, businesses, and more — for lives disrupted by the evil one who thought he had achieved victory.
But that was on Friday.
Then the improbable happened. The impossible.
As our media and politicians would say, “the unprecedented.”
I pray that you will experience the beauty that God gives to replace the ashes of despair and worry in your life, and that you will be like a great oak, unshakable and strong, planted for God’s glory.
Our God is sovereign. Your life is in His hands. Your future is with Him.
Christ is Risen!
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