Ashes, sometimes all that is all that is left of what once was your life all that was held precious and dear, all that is left of what once was and most importantly what will be never again.
Maybe you feel that way today, maybe you have wounds that are so deep, wounds that are as a festering infection, hurting and oozing. 

You try your best to dress them but to no avail, you are putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound that need surgical repair, performed by the only one who specializes in surgery of the soul.
Wounds hidden under the ashes that have built up by troubles of life each time, a little of the fire in your soul have been smothered out.
Ashes of abuse suffered in childhood.

Ashes of having your innocence stolen away, the enemy maybe even convincing you somewhere along the way that this was actually your fault.
Ashes of your Prince Charming transforming into the absolute Prince of Darkness. Ashes of bad decisions made in haste, just to kill the pain a little.

Ashes of unplanned pregnancy ending in a regretted abortion, because others convinced you to take the easy way out.

Ashes of losing a loved one much to soon. All the ashes of your life.
Maybe you asked yourself, If He is real why does He let these things happen?

Is it just you? Does He only care for a select, perfect, chosen few?
Maybe you have reached out to a “believer” their response to you only worsening your feeling of worthlessness and shame.

Tell you a little secret about that, “all that glitters is not gold”. Jesus said we would know a tree by the fruit it bears, so no matter how much a person professes Christ, if they mistreat you, that lets you know something is not right within them and if left unrepentant, they will be numbered with those that will hear Him say “Depart from me, I never knew you”.

But please don’t base who you believe Him to be on anyone that is why He warns us of these people, to beware of them and their poison. Discover him for yourself, work out your own salvation with fear (respect) and trembling(seriousness).

God only requires that we repent, keep His commandments and do our best each day, our reasonable service and some days we may not do so good but his mercy is renewed every single day, he doesn’t expect you to be perfect, the bible translation of the word is blameless.

No one is perfect, and if we were why would we have needed a Savior?
The truth is that He wants you just as you are, He rewards those who diligently seek Him. He knows every mistake you have ever made, and more importantly He has seen every tear that you have cried and each one is precious to Him.
He is timeless, there is no damage so old that He can’t heal it.
He is a father that never drinks, doesn’t do drugs, never hits or yells and when you need to feel safe and secure he will protect you and hide you under the shadow of his wings.
Maybe you even feel like there is not much left to save, you believe in God and you’ve prayed the salvation prayer and still feel no different, you feel like you’re praying to someone out in the middle of the universe and He is so far away that He just can’t hear you.

But I promise, He does and if you will just scoop up all those ashes and take them to Him and just say, I really don’t want these anymore, I promise you in exchange He will give you beauty, joy unspeakable, peace that washes over you and a love unlike anything you have ever known.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for their ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called  the tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:8

He wants you to have His beauty, that your joy in Him will be full, to clothe you with the beautiful robe of His righteousness and give you a song in your heart that will see you through even the darkest night.

The deeper the root the harder it is to get it out of the ground. Jesus said some things only go by fasting and prayer so please let me make a few suggestions.

Pray: But not a “chanty” prayer, talk to Him just as you would face to face.

He will never tell anyone else your secrets and He will never remind you of your mistakes.
And if you have to cry it all, well he understands that language too. You may not know what exactly your problem is, but He does, remember, He does.

Be yourself with Him, don’t focus on what you have been falsely taught that you need to be, focus on Him. We all stumble but He is right, ready to help us up, dust us off and encourage to try it again. He loved you enough to die an unbelievably brutal death on the cross, what more could he say to convince you?

Fast: Of course, food is usually the first choice but it does not have to be, just decide what you want to surrender and for how long and dedicate that time to Him, avoid negative people and surround yourself with uplifting music and join a good Christian website, Charles Stanley, Brian Houston Hill Song, and Joseph Prince are very encouraging.

That doesn’t mean I agree with everything they believe but I do know you have to be very careful of doctrines. God will send us messages when we need them but we must be “tuned in” to hear them. Watch only wholesome programs during this time, David Phelps has a song “Just as I am” that also would offer you some hope that you are not alone.

Finally, keep at it, I’m not telling you that your life will be perfect, far from it, and that once those wounds have been dressed and healed by the Lord that the scar tissue is never gonna hurt, there will also probably even be a giant or two along the way that will have to be slain.
But I am promising you that once the breath of God blows upon those ashes, their scattering revealing a small, yet still flickering flame, the fresh air causing it to ignite in you a fire of the glory of God burning so bright through you that you will never, ever be the same.

Once the Holy Ghost has mounted you up on wings as an eagle you will fly so high above that scattered mess only pausing long enough to ask Him if he is sure that the gray mass below really once had been you, His confirmation that yes, you truly have been freed, and then you will laugh with joy unspeakable and you will continue to fly until we meet in the hereafter.
Originally Posted: 05/28/14

Part 2 Among the thorns

All Rights Reserved. Reverend Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015