{"id":256,"date":"2015-08-16T15:26:27","date_gmt":"2015-08-16T20:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.likeisha.com\/?p=256"},"modified":"2015-08-16T15:26:27","modified_gmt":"2015-08-16T20:26:27","slug":"beauty-from-ashes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.likeisha.com\/?p=256","title":{"rendered":"Beauty from Ashes"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p> $\"thumb.php\"$ <\/a>Isaiah 61:3 ~ and provide for those who grieve in Zion\u2014 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. <\/strong>\n

In this 61^{st<\/sup> chapter of Isaiah, the prophet reminds us that God has made provisions for His children, that He will restore us and that He will give us beauty for our ashes.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t matter what your ashes look like.\u00a0 Through God\u2019s grace and unmerited favor, we can be more than conquerors.\u00a0 Don\u2019t allow Satan to feed words of discouragement and doubt into your mind.\u00a0 Stand in faith believing in the promises of God and the vision and purpose that He has given to you. If you opened your eyes this morning, there is purpose for your life.\u00a0 Embrace the vision that God has given you and walk in your purpose.<\/p>\n}

Remember, God blesses us not just for our own needs or purposes, but so that we can be a blessing to others.\u00a0 You have heard the saying that God can turn your mess into a message, or that test becomes your testimony.\u00a0 Those ashes; that season of mourning; that spirit of despair can all be used for God\u2019s glory.\u00a0\u00a0 As stated at the end of verse 3 above, we should be a \u201cplanting of the Lord for the display of his splendor\u201d.<\/p>\n

So I encourage you to be open to sharing God\u2019s blessing with others, share an encouraging word, share your testimony and be there to support someone in need.\u00a0 As you do this, God will continue to transform you and bestow you with a crown of beauty, oil of joy, and a garment of praise.<\/p>\n

Prayer:<\/strong> Lord, thank You for seeing us through our tough seasons. We trust that You will turn our ashes into beauty and that we will be a display of Your splendor. Amen.<\/p>\n

Purpose in Action: <\/strong>How has God turned your ashes into beauty? If you would like to share your testimony with our Destination Purpose readers please reply and share below.<\/p>\n

For His Purpose,<\/p>\n

LiKeisha<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"