Believe for God to take the ashes of yesterday's ruin and give you beauty in every area of your life! Isaiah spoke of it prophetically before the proclamation was uttered from the lips of our great High Priest, Jesus, when he promised:
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:3). God wants to give you beauty for ashes!
Throughout the Old Testament, men and women who were confronted with crises and paralyzed with problems sat in sackcloth and ashes before the Lord. Take, for instance, King David who became an adulterer and murderer then sat in sackcloth and ashes before the Lord in repentance for his sin.
Job, whose children had died, his fields were pillaged and his house was burned, bowed in sackcloth before the Lord. But it was out of the ashes of his life that God was able to bless his latter end more than his beginning (read Job 42:12 for yourself).
The fire in your heart for God may seem to be growing cold. The love for your spouse may seem but a flicker. The hope and belief for any future good may seem but a remnant of bygone days. But from the smoldering embers of your past God is smoldering the ashes and rekindling His promise of hope in your life. He is restoring unto you the joy of your salvation. (See Psalm 51:12.)
For your ashes, the Lord will transform you with beauty. In return for the spirit of heaviness, He will cover you with the garment of praise.
Read more articles by Karen McKenney or search for articles on the same topic or others.
You have written a very encouraging piece...Yes, the fire may die down, but as long as a few hot ashes are smoldering, a huge fire can once again burn. Thanks for sharing!
Irvin
