Start With Little Wordless Thanks

 

 

If you've ever been a bride or planned a wedding, you'd agree that one of the essential pieces of that momentous occasion is the outfit – The Wedding Dress. Brides travel far or browse the net for countless hours, searching for the perfect wedding dress. This critical mission has never been taken lightly by any bride I know.

 

So why is the search for the right dress crucial, you may ask? While the bride may try on different outfits because of style, fit, material or colour, she selects the dress simply because of how it makes her feel when she wears it. The perfect dress makes her feel ecstatic - complete joy and happiness. Every bride knows that the dress is the glue that sets the mood for the day and brings it all together, which is why reality shows like "Say yes to the dress" are always a hit.

 

Wearing a bridal outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks is fine, but eventually, you'd have to take it off at the end of the day. I haven't met anyone who keeps wearing their wedding dress every day after the wedding to relive the moment. That would be ridiculous. What if you could put on an outfit that would have the feeling of joy live on forever in your heart?

 

That's the promise God made to us in Isaiah 61:3 – He promises us a better garment that will make us feel happy beyond a point in time; it's an outfit that feels you with lasting joy.

 

"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 (NIV)

  

What a promise!

 

Life sometimes takes a toll, leaving you sitting all alone, down in the dumps, overwhelmed by despair. We all have those moments but remember his promises when you find yourself in that spot. Remember the words of the one who owns you and your future.

 

God's promise in Isaiah 61: 3 comes with a complete makeover, starting with 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. To start with your makeover, allow the warmth of God's presence to lift your mood and fill your heart with joy. It may look daunting as you struggle to break from depressing thoughts, but if you'd take a small step today, God will turn that into a giant stride for you.

 

So, here's a small step to take - start by saying little wordless thanks in your heart. Something as simple as:

Thank you, God, that I'm reading these words.

Thank you that my heart still beats.

Thank you that I have another chance and it's called tomorrow.

 

Start small but keep going. Think about something you can be grateful for and say a word of thanks to God. As you do, you'd start to shake off that overwhelming feeling of despair. In time, you'd find the strength to sing again.

 

Our days on earth can be filled with challenges, and as people of faith, we also struggle with praising God through the storm. I pray you'd find strength and that your faith will not fail. I pray you will believe again that the one who called us is faithful.

 

It's time to put on our garment of praise – that outfit that fills our soul with lasting joy and connects us with our heavenly father. And as we do, he will plant and establish us in his righteousness, and we will always display his splendour here on earth.

 

 

Post Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay