restoration

I'm rereading Captivating by Stasi and John Eldredge. John paraphrases a prophecy in Isaiah 61. He made a good point that this is the passage Jesus pointed to when He began His ministry on Earth. Of all the passages He could have chosen, this is the one He picked on the day He first publicly announced His mission.

God has sent me on a mission.

I have some great news for you.

God has sent me to restore and release something.

And that something is you.

I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.

I am furious at the enemy who did this to you, and i will fight against him.

Let me comfort you.

For, dear one, i will bestow beauty upon you

where you have known only devastation.

Joy, in the places of your deep sorrow.

And I will robe your heart in thankful praise

in exchange for your resignation and despair.

It's amazing this is still true for us today. God can and will comfort us and release us... if we allow Him.

Heal us!