Greetings – may God’s delightful grace and peace rest upon you through the name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a beautiful start to one of the last day’s of Spring – and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I trust that you ready to transition into Summer 2020 with the hope that it will be better than we are anticipating. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release any concerns and doubts and fears that have found their way into your thoughts…and then may He create within you a confident expectation and a peace that doesn’t make sense.
For the last ninety plus mornings I have been praying the same prayer – “The Healing Creed” – and I have learned much from that discipline. Many time some of the Scriptural promises claimed showed up in the strangest places at just the right time. Often when this happened God would lead into new ideas and meanings,,,and He did it again this morning.
Many of you will know the verse – He will give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness – Isaiah 61:3. I must confess that I never really took time to discover what it was saying. However in a ministry email, God gave me an insight to the first phrase…”beauty for ashes” and it was powerful. The verse is not one meant for everyone but for His hurting people…the remnant in Jerusalem…for those who had lost hold of their intimate relationship with Him.
The word “ashes” can have four particular meanings: first, they were evidence of a previous fire; second, they were evidence of a sacrifice having been made; third, they were fertile fields for growth; fourth, they carried an aroma that would ascend. As I pondered those possible meanings I could hear some of the “revival” songs that cry out to God asking for “the fire.” There was one song that I believe fits in so well – Lord, light the fire again-I feel new life begin–Eric Nuzum.
And it is what the Lord wants to do with the ashes…the evidence of what things used to be like, the lingering aroma of a relationship that once was pleasing. It says…He “God” would give beauty…that is He would restore – reignite the flames. I cannot help but think that God will take the “ashes” of all that was lost and disrupted and weakened – and He will recreate “beauty” – something new and positive and strong. Beauty for ashes – something of substance – in place of what was.
Just a little something to think about – have a blessed day!