There are times when I just feel stuck and don’t know what to write. It seems after praying about what to share, that still nothing comes.
That’s when I open my bible and become even more intentional. I can’t give up, because I have made a promise to God, and He has made a promise to me. You see, I’ve had to be intentional about how I look for God’s hands in my life to be able to share what God is doing. Sometimes it pops up pretty easily, and sometimes I have to do a little digging. Today is one of those digging days.
I dug aka opened my bible knowing in my heart that I needed a topic. I landed on Isaiah 61, and as I read it, my breathing relaxed and I smiled. It has such a powerful imagery of God making promises to His people. The passage which was written by the prophet Isaiah, speaks of God’s unfailing love. The topic of this passage is ‘The Year of the Lord’s Favor’.. Isaiah 61:2-3 states ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.’
I’m smiling all over again, after reading and typing those verses. You might be going through a difficult season in your life right now, but what promises! And I know from my personal experience that when God promises something, He is sure to fulfill them.
Friends, let us cling to His promises that He is making beauty from our ashes, and He will replace the crown of ashes (shame and despair) with a crown of beauty.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you can make all things new. Help us to seek you first in everything that we do. Help us to cling to your promises and help us to hold on just a little while longer. Teach us how to be faithful to you.