Isaiah 61:3
To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Recently, there concluded the women of honor ‘Beauty for Ashes’ conference, where men and women of God shared the word and their experiences, which is a blessing to me and I believe to all those who attended. So for today, I thought to share with you, thoughts from this conference, that we may all share in the blessing from hearing the word of God; that you may know the purposes of God in your life to give ‘Beauty for Ashes’
Imagine something that is completely burnt by fire, no recognition of the former shape or substance, all hope completely lost of any restoration; if your life is like that at any point of time-hopeless, the good news is that there is hope in our God, who makes all things beautiful in its time-beauty for ashes! He knows us as we are. So you can leave all pretenses of self-will, strong-mind; come as you are and ask Him to fill your life with beauty!
Crisis, Choices and Conquest
Remember Ruth? She was a Moabite woman completely devastated with the death of her husband. You know that in those times, it was the man who was the bread-winner for the family. Ruth had her mother-in-law for company, who herself was a widow! They had nowhere to go; all hope seemed lost! This was a crisis…
But when Naomi, her mother-in-law decided to go back to her own country, Ruth made a choice that would change the course of her life! She said to Naomi “Your people shall be my people and your God, my God!” (Ruth 1:16). Moab to Israel was a long journey-there were no fast modes of transport as we know it now; she was going to a strange land; and a ‘strange’ people-a different culture; even her sister-in-law, Orpah, turned back to her own people in Moab; but Ruth was determined to cling to Naomi.
We never hear about her sister-in-law after that in the Bible. But do you know the history of Ruth? Ruth married Boaz and came into the lineage of Jesus Christ! She was the great grand-mother to King David. What a choice and what conquest for Ruth!
Barrenness to Fruitfulness
Heard of Hannah? She had many good things in her life, but lacked the one thing she desired and longed for-children; for she was barren! Remember that in those days, barrenness was considered as a shameful thing-a curse! But one day, she came to the temple and poured out her heart to God. The priest, Eli thought she was drunk! But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:15). And God heard her prayer! She soon had a son-Prophet Samuel, who would judge Israel for many years. She had other children, and her life turned around from barrenness to fruitfulness. What a wonderful exchange!
If you are in spiritual barrenness, you can come before the Lord of heaven and earth, and pour out your soul before him, for all that you long for! He will hear your prayer and answer you speedily, and cause you to be fruitful. He is our God-who gives Beauty for Ashes.
Response to Troubles
There was a speaker at the conference, who was diagnosed with cancer. In this time of trial, and as she read God’s word day-by-day, she decided on three things to do:
- Agree with God’s word
- Declare God’s word
- Wait on God’s word
It proved to be an unbeatable combination-God said it, I believe it and that settles it! For soon she was made well! In times of trouble, God’s 'Rhema' word is all that we have, and it is all that we need! Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Heb. 10: 23). Jesus has promised us victory in every tribulation; therefore we need not lose heart. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We agree; we confess and we will wait!
Forgiveness
In Matthew 18, Jesus told a parable to His disciples about the unforgiving servant. The servant owed His master much; yet his master forgave him his debts. But the same servant had trouble in forgiving his debtor, who owed him little; but caught hold of him and put him in prison. When the servant’s master heard of these deeds, he was angry and delivered him to the torturers! At the end of the parable, Jesus concluded with this warning: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matt. 18:35)
You see, forgiveness is important. It is SO important, that Jesus taught us to pray forgiveness in the Lord’s prayer: “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” (Luke 11:4). Jesus concluded again with the same warning: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Forgiveness matters! Forgiveness is essential to receive forgiveness. Therefore,
- Do not nurse hurts
- Do not rehearse hurts
- But, reverse hurts
Paul writes to Ephesians: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4: 31, 32). Remember, how MUCH God has forgiven you; so we too can forgive one another. Don’t let the sun go down in your anger. Freely you have received; freely forgive!
Godly Parenting
Parents have this at the back of their minds: what should I do to disciple my child? When should I discipline? And how should I discipline? Is what I do sufficient to bring up my child in Godly ways? How far is too far?
Proverbs 22:6 says: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The couple who shared about Godly parenting, shared from their own life experiences of bringing up children. They listed out 10 KEYS to Godly parenting:
- Discipline must match the offense: Do not be too harsh, or too soft. Children must understand that they reap just what they sow. Not anything more, not anything less!
- Never discipline out of anger: This is for all stressed out parents, who spend too little time managing the kids-and the children should not suffer for the state of our minds!
- Be consistent: You cannot ignore a child’s wrong-doing one time, and suddenly start punishing the next time. Be consistent-in principles and in practice.
- Discern whether to spank or take away privileges: The Bible clearly warns us that he who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (Prov. 13:24). Therefore, we require discernment in this matter!
- Make them realize that bad behavior leads to painful consequences: What a man sows, the same he shall reap. Children must be made to realize this truth, as early as possible!
- Never use public humiliation: Do not mete out punishments in public. Children need correction, not humiliation.
- Focus on the moment: Even while wrong, children would like to be heard. Therefore, whenever kids speak to us, focus on what they are saying. See their point of view and justification if any, before proceeding to discipline.
- Reset the boundaries as they grow: Parenting is not ‘one size fits all’ kind of discipline! Children grow up-and grown up children have different set of privileges. Be sensitive to their growth and potential, and reset the boundaries of freedom and independence to the children as they grow up.
- Love should be the foundation of all discipline: This is the way the Father deals with us: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Heb. 12: 5, 6).
- Discipline, not punish: Children must be made to understand, that their good behavior is the intent, and discipline is in order.
In the conference, we also heard about Sarah-who followed her husband into the journey of faith; not questioning, not disputing, but calling Abraham ‘Lord’!
And Nehemiah, who lifted the spirits of the complacent Jews and encourage them to build the walls of Jerusalem-all in just 52 days!
We must learn to walk away from the ‘surviving mentality’ to come to the ‘subduing mentality’. Faith to rebuild and path to restoration is found when we know the promises of God, to Adam and in Christ to us! Fill the earth and subdue it! We have one life to fulfill God’s purpose! Each one of us are here for a purpose. It is God’s will for you and I to stand up and be counted! And when you are involved in God’s work, do not be surprised if there is opposition-in fact, you ought to be surprised if there is NO opposition! Remember the opposition faced by Nehemiah when they started to build the walls! There may be a storm all around you, and all about you-when you are in the centre of God’s will! But know that He who is in us, is greater than he that is in the world.
Therefore, in a crisis, there will be no questions for us; only choices and trust. God will open up a door that no man can shut, and God will shut so that no man can open. Life’s easy in Jesus; He is my answer! He has given me beauty for ashes, and oil of joy for my mourning. Therefore will I praise Him; and walk the narrow way! God bless you. Amen.
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