The Lord says, "This is a time to rejoice! Choose to rejoice, no matter what happens around you in the world! Look to Me and receive from Me! Be set free from your sorrow, and enter into My joy! This is the time to declare that your time of mourning has ended, and your time of rejoicing has come!"
Isaiah 60:20-21 (NLT) says, 'Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end. All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with My own hands in order to bring Myself glory'.
The word 'mourning' here is from the word 'abal' in Hebrew, which means 'to lament, to bewail, to be in sorrow'. Indeed, your time of mourning is coming to an end, and you are set free from sorrow!
Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever!'
The word 'mourning' here is 'sawfad' in Hebrew, which speaks of 'to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as some people in some culture do in a time of grief)'. Now, what does 'beating the breasts' (or 'beating the chest') show us here? It is a show of grief, regret, or disappointment because of something that had happened, and the person who does it would even cause self-inflicted harm.
Beloved of God, some of you need to hear this! Beat yourself no more! Hit yourself no more! Harm yourself no more! Whether physically or in your soul. Past is past. Let it go! Forgive yourself. Forgive those who have hurt you. Today, know that the Lord has set you free, and He has given you a new hope and a new joy!
You know why? Jesus has already been beaten, hit, striped, and slashed for you! In fact, He has been pierced for you when He died for you on the cross! He has become the man of sorrow, acquainted with grief, and He has carried all those sorrows and griefs of yours when He died for you on the cross! (Isaiah 53:3)
In Isaiah 57:14-15 (NLT), the Lord God says, "Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so My people can return from captivity. I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts."
Beloved of God, here's a piece of good news for you! The Lord is in the midst of 'rebuilding the road' for you! He is clearing away the 'rocks and stones' that hinder you! He is setting you free! He is making a way for a greater future for you, in spite of what had happened in your past! But you have to play your part by giving Him room to do so!
So, take heart. All is not lost yet, no matter how you 'blew it' recently, or what mistake you've made recently!
The word 'live' (or 'dwell' in NKJV) here is 'shakan' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'stay, abide, continue, inhabit, remain, rest, reside, lodge'. See? The Lord is 'attracted' to those whose hearts are contrite and humble before Him! And He will know how to restore and revive those who are such!
So, dedicate yourself to Him afresh and anew! Dedicate even your home to Him afresh and anew! Let Him dwell in your life! Let Him 'shakan' with you! Because when you have Him lodging and residing in your life, you don't have to be afraid anymore! After all, He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and He lives in you!
Zechariah 2:10-11 (NKJV), the Lord says, "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst. Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you."
The word 'dwell' here is also 'shakan' in Hebrew, and another word to describe it is to 'tabernacle'. That is to say He is here to tabernacle with you! In other words, He is here to make His home in your life! What a privilege to be called a child of God!
Prayer for you today: "O Lord, as Your people dedicate their lives, and even their homes to You this day, come and fill each of Your beloved and their homes with Your glorious presence. As You tabernacle with them, and as You dwell in their midst, I declare a time of mourning has ended, and a time of rejoicing has begun! There will be honor, riches, and life for those who humble themselves and fear the Lord! And when Your glory is here, nothing in this world can withstand You, and no evil can overcome Your people who look to You. Amen!"
