Topic: Beauty for Ashes [Joel Osteen Devotional 18 April 2020]

Beauty for Ashes

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Isaiah 61:3, NKJV

TODAY’S WORD:

It’s easy to live discouraged because of disappointments and things we don’t understand. We worked hard, but we didn’t get the promotion. We prayed, but our loved one didn’t make it. We did our best, but the relationship didn’t work out. Life is not always fair, but God says He will take what was meant for your harm and use it to your advantage. He says He will pay you back double for the unfair things that happened. He says He will give you beauty for the ashes, but you have to let go of the ashes before you receive the beauty. You can’t hold on to the old and expect to receive the new. The past is over and done. That’s why it’s called the past. Quit dwelling on it, quit reliving it. You’re not going to understand everything that happens, but God has a purpose for it. He knows how to bring good out of it. So keep moving forward.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

“Father, thank You that the past is over and done, and I can quit dwelling on it. Thank You that You had a purpose for the good and the bad of my past, and I can let it go and move forward. I believe You are giving me beauty for ashes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”