A Reason Isn’t a Right
Author: Bob Shafer
Today’s Scripture
"To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory" (Isaiah 61:3, NLT).
It’s easy to have a good attitude and pursue our dreams as long as everything is going our way. That doesn’t take a lot of faith. But what about the difficult times—when a relationship doesn’t work out, or you get a bad health report, or a friend does you wrong? It’s easy to lose your passion when you’re hurt. Too many people are sitting on the sidelines of life because they’re injured. Now they’re nursing their wounds, not moving forward because of what they’ve been through.
You may have a reason to feel sorry for yourself, but you don’t have a right. God promised He will give you beauty for those ashes. He said He would pay you back double for the wrongs, but you have to do your part. If you’re going to see the beauty, you have to shake off the ashes of self-pity. You have to shake off the discouragement and get back in the game. Every person has injuries. We all have wounds, but you can’t let a loss, a health issue, a divorce, or a hurt be an excuse to sit on the sidelines. Today, get back in the game. Know that your best days are ahead. Know that He is working things together for your good, and He has victory in store for your future!
A Prayer for Today
Father, I praise You for Your love and compassion toward me. Today I choose to obey You and shake off the past. I shake off self-pity and discouragement. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me and begin to move forward into the good things You have in store for me. Thank You for giving me beauty for ashes and turning my sorrow into joy. I declare my best days are ahead in Jesus’ name! Amen.
Wake-Up Thought
God wants to give you beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for despair. But here’s the key: you have to let go of the ashes before God can give you the beauty. Ashes represent what’s left over after something’s been burned up—our broken dreams, our disappointments, our hurts, our failures. We all have our share of ashes, and God wants to give us beauty in exchange for them.
Author: Bob Shafer
Today’s Scripture
"To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory" (Isaiah 61:3, NLT).
It’s easy to have a good attitude and pursue our dreams as long as everything is going our way. That doesn’t take a lot of faith. But what about the difficult times—when a relationship doesn’t work out, or you get a bad health report, or a friend does you wrong? It’s easy to lose your passion when you’re hurt. Too many people are sitting on the sidelines of life because they’re injured. Now they’re nursing their wounds, not moving forward because of what they’ve been through.
You may have a reason to feel sorry for yourself, but you don’t have a right. God promised He will give you beauty for those ashes. He said He would pay you back double for the wrongs, but you have to do your part. If you’re going to see the beauty, you have to shake off the ashes of self-pity. You have to shake off the discouragement and get back in the game. Every person has injuries. We all have wounds, but you can’t let a loss, a health issue, a divorce, or a hurt be an excuse to sit on the sidelines. Today, get back in the game. Know that your best days are ahead. Know that He is working things together for your good, and He has victory in store for your future!
A Prayer for Today
Father, I praise You for Your love and compassion toward me. Today I choose to obey You and shake off the past. I shake off self-pity and discouragement. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me and begin to move forward into the good things You have in store for me. Thank You for giving me beauty for ashes and turning my sorrow into joy. I declare my best days are ahead in Jesus’ name! Amen.
Wake-Up Thought
God wants to give you beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for despair. But here’s the key: you have to let go of the ashes before God can give you the beauty. Ashes represent what’s left over after something’s been burned up—our broken dreams, our disappointments, our hurts, our failures. We all have our share of ashes, and God wants to give us beauty in exchange for them.