"and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to 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." Isaiah 61:3
What a difference a day makes. Wow, I've heard that statement many times but never saw it hold so true as it did Saturday morning. The dead, dormant trees and landscape that I had witnessed only a day before had overnight been transformed and restored into a work of beauty. At God's order to open the clouds of heaven and allow the snow to fall, Creation's loveliness had once again been revealed. Where there had been brown leafless branches, seemingly stripped of all life at nightfall, there was now what the morning revealed... a glorious coating of snow that glistened and crackled in the bright rising sun. And as I ran down the country road nearest my house, cold as the day was, I had to smile remembering that God can restore all things, even those things you and I believe to be lifeless.
In Isaiah 61:3 we are shown a picture of how God can restore and transform us as well by promising to replace our ashes (our sorrow and regret) with a crown of beauty, our mourning with joy and our despair with a garment of praise. And best of all, he promises that, like the great oaks that I had seen transformed into a thing of beauty overnight, we too can be transformed as quickly (by forgiveness) to be "called oaks of righteousness" and to be a "display of his splendor".
If you believe that today (and I hope you do), you can proclaim, in the words of Crystal Lewis, "I've been made righteous in His sight. A display of His splendor all can see. He gives beauty for ashes." What a difference a day can truly make! Won't you let God take your ashes and replace them with a crown of beauty today?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your promises of restoration to those that are repentant, grieving, mourning and in despair. Where sin and it's consequences have left ugliness behind, you have left beauty in it's place transforming us into something better than before. Like the great oaks that have been planted for your glory, may we be rooted in you and forever grateful to wear a crown of beauty displaying it for all to see. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Beauty for Ashes - Crystal Lewis
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