Isaiah 61 is a fabulous chapter that speaks about the ministry of our Lord to all those people who become part of His kingdom. In verse 3 we discover the tremendous blessing found in exchanging one way of living for something better:
1. God offers us "a crown of beauty instead of ashes." Throughout the Scriptures "ashes" refers to times of mourning or to feelings of misery and shame. It can also apply to the feeling of being worthless and unloveable. Isaiah tells us that Lord offers us an exchange: a life of shame and misery for a life crowned with love and acceptance - a life that will become a beautiful thing in God's hands. This beauty of which the Lord speaks is not one of physical appearance, but instead, it is the quality of one's inner life in Christ!
2. God offers us "the oil of joy instead of mourning." Gladness speaks of a "lightness of heart" that transcends any problems or difficulties we may be facing. It means looking on the bright side of things instead of always looking at the negative. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
3. God offers us "a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." The good news is that God offers an exchange - praise for despair, joy for depression, fulfillment for disppointment. As we choose to put on the garment of praise, things in our lives begin to change, for "praise is the bread that nourishes us - it is the liberation of our souls" (Calvin Miller).
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