Trade Your Ashes For HIS Crown

(Isaiah 61:3 NIV- Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy 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.)

One of my favorite songs to listen to as I’m praying in the mornings is a song called “Glorious Ruins” by Hillsong. More so than music itself, I am a lover of lyrics. I listen to every single word of a song. And so as I’m praying, I like to listen to songs that will relay the worship and the cry of my heart to the heart of God because sometimes I’m in such awe of Him and so amazed that I have the honor and privilege of being in His Presence that I simply can’t find the words to speak forth on my own. If you’ve followed my blog then you know that I am a crier and my deepest and most intimate form of worship is displayed through my tears.

This morning as “Glorious Ruins” began to play and I began to sing, I felt those words truly take root it my spirit. I was filled with The Presence of The Lord and I just wept. Part of the song says: “When the mountains fall and the tempest roar You are with me. When creation folds still my soul will soar on Your mercy. I’ll walk through the fire with my head lifted high and my spirit revived in Your story. And I’ll look to the cross as my failure is lost in the light of Your glorious grace. Let the ruins come to Life in the beauty of Your name. Rising up from the ashes God forever You reign. And my soul will find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. I will love You forever and forever I’ll sing”.

Those words truly translate my gratitude for all that God is and has brought to my life. They reminded me that at the cross our failure is lost and replaced with the honor and privilege to stand, walk, live, and breathe in His incredible purpose for our lives. They reminded me of the truth that lies within today’s focal passage and the beauty that it relays from God’s heart to ours. We get to trade in our ashes to behold the beauty of His crown!

God wants to take all of the ruin, ash, and despair that burdens us and replace it with His crown of beauty, His oil of joy, and His garment of praise. He created us in His glorious image. His splendor rests upon and within us and we should never be ashamed or afraid to embrace that and look, live, and love as such. Through Jesus our ruins radiantly come to Life in such magnificent form. Where we see ruins within ourselves, God sees treasure because He knows the beauty that He created within us.

So today, I want to encourage you to not focus on your ruins, but to focus on Jesus and allow Him to show you the beauty and Life that lies within you through His Holy Spirit. Today, I want you to make the choice to trade your ashes for His crown! Live in the light, love, and Life that He provides! He’s worth it and so are you! (John 8:12 NLT- Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I Am The Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have The Light that leads to Life.”)

I love you guys!

Believe, Be Beautiful, Be Brilliant, and Be Blessed! 🙂

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