==isaiah 61:1-2:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
==isaiah 61:3:
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. |
![]() “The Glorious Garment of Praise, PRAISE AND WORSHIP. The Hebrew root for “garment” (‘atah) shows praise as more than a piece of clothing casually thrown over our shoulders. It literally teaches us “to wrap” or “cover” ourselves—that the garment of praise is to leave no openings through which hostile elements can penetrate. This garment of praise repels and replaces the heavy spirit. This special message of instruction and hope is for those oppressed by fear or doubt. “Put on” this garment. A warm coat from our closet only resists the cold wind when it is “put on.” When distressed, be dressed—with praise! Act according to God’s Word!”
― Jack Hayford, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word, New King James Version |
March 1, 2024: CCM Magazine reported: Prolific songwriter, modern worship pioneer, and award-winning artist Martin Smith continues to share his exuberant joy and faith throughout his latest single, “Joy (What The World Calls Foolish),” out today. “JOY…to the world – I’m so pleased this song is finally out.” Smith shares. “It’s more than a song but a testimony of how kind God is. That we can really only find true Joy in his presence. Even when there are cracks appearing all over my life, I can put on a garment of praise. Sometimes I lead worship with a guitar, sometimes I’ll grab a flag. The world may call it foolish, but something powerful happens when we praise God with passion and sacrifice. What costs us nothing changes nothing. So yep, not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but I’m young enough to run around the room and old enough to not care what anyone thinks. Here comes the JOY.”
December 19, 2024: BeliefNet reported: A Wisconsin Christian school is holding tightly to its faith after a devastating shooting left two dead and six injured on Monday. Administrators and families at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison are leaning into the promises of Scripture, even as they process profound grief and shock.Barbara Wiers, director of elementary and school relations at Abundant Life, spoke at a press conference hours after the tragedy, sharing words of comfort and faith. “We believe that God is good in everything and that He turns beauty for ashes,” she said, referencing Isaiah 61:3. “This wasn’t a surprise to God, and He’s going to do something mighty with it.” |
![]() Ultimately, Jesus’s special concern for the poor shows their role in the bigger story God is telling. Back in Isaiah 61, we see he’s in the business of turning the world’s categories on their heads. To his believing people who are poor and oppressed, he promises: to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,
that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (Isa. 61:3–4) Those on the bottom of the present system are precisely the ones God will use to rebuild what humanity’s sin has ruined. The glories of his upside-down kingdom demonstrate his sovereignty over all. And “the year of the LORD’s favor” that Jesus references? It’s the year of jubilee, when the inequities between his rich and poor people are leveled, and every believer is given a fresh start so that those who have become poor “can continue to live with you” (Lev. 25:35, 36). The God who has always made it his purpose to dwell among his people, and who is coming again to make all things new (Rev. 21:5), desires that both rich and poor dwell together now as a symbol of this promise. In a church that seeks to live this promise out, Agur’s prayer is answered, and Paul’s contentment is fulfilled. --Justin Lomas; Does God Prefer Us to Be Rich or Poor? 5.28.19 |
April 5, 2021: Anna Voskamp wrote: I called my parents. Water rescue came. Forty-five minutes later they found his body but couldn’t resuscitate him. We said goodbye in the back of an ambulance through a yellow plastic bag and signed his death certificate on a curb in the parking lot. Although my eyes were almost swollen shut those first few days, my tears became less and less frequent. To the point of sitting in my grandmother’s tub one night begging God for tears. Tears meant Jeremy mattered. He deserved them. But I could not muster them no matter how hard I tried. A disorienting peace covered me in the weeks after Jeremy’s death. It didn’t fill the gaping hole of his absence, but it sheltered the inmost, fragile parts of me. Why wasn’t I mad at God? Why didn’t I suffer survivor’s guilt? Why didn’t I have nightmares or flashbacks? What’s wrong with me? Grief is not rational nor predictable. And neither is the work of God. There’s no other way to explain it. God protected me. God has been faithful to ‘bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:3) The loss, although devastating, brought deep clarity to my zitty-teenager-self about to start high school. It brought eternal perspective. Through the years of boyfriend drama, school dances, football games, driving license tests, and college applications, a soul-deep rallying cry persisted. |

God brings good news to his burdened people as surely as he brings sunshine after rain.
So Joseph’s painful imprisonment gives way to an appointment as prime minister. Job’s misery simmers for thirty-some chapters, then breaks forth into a new family and fortune. The Baptist’s beheading transfers him from prison to paradise. And the bad news of Good Friday entombs the Son of God, only to have the stone roll away on Easter morning. Jesus himself was cast down dead in the dirt like a grain of wheat — and the world still cannot restrain the fruit from that death (John 12:24). Our good-news God gives “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:3).
It’s not that the ashes, mourning, and faint spirit aren’t real. They are — as real as Jesus’s tomb. But like the tomb, they’re also temporary. You may lie battered in a tomb of bad news for three days, or for a stretch of miserable months, or even for many sorrowful years. But Sunday is always coming, and God will exchange your death for resurrection. --Scott Hubbard; Desiring God; Beauty is Born in Bad News 9.3.16
So Joseph’s painful imprisonment gives way to an appointment as prime minister. Job’s misery simmers for thirty-some chapters, then breaks forth into a new family and fortune. The Baptist’s beheading transfers him from prison to paradise. And the bad news of Good Friday entombs the Son of God, only to have the stone roll away on Easter morning. Jesus himself was cast down dead in the dirt like a grain of wheat — and the world still cannot restrain the fruit from that death (John 12:24). Our good-news God gives “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:3).
It’s not that the ashes, mourning, and faint spirit aren’t real. They are — as real as Jesus’s tomb. But like the tomb, they’re also temporary. You may lie battered in a tomb of bad news for three days, or for a stretch of miserable months, or even for many sorrowful years. But Sunday is always coming, and God will exchange your death for resurrection. --Scott Hubbard; Desiring God; Beauty is Born in Bad News 9.3.16

Becoming a person of praise no matter what is going on in our lives actually starts with the decision to put our faith in Jesus. God sent Christ to be our Savior, so that we could be reconciled to The Father. The more we think on this, the more thanks we’ll want to give. Soon, a habit of expressing gratitude will take hold in our hearts.
And when life makes us weary or tears us down, our thoughts will return more quickly to the Lord who loves us, and who has proved His faithfulness over and over. That will stir our hearts to reach for Him with worship on our lips.
Isaiah’s words were meant to give hope to a nation in anguish. The truth they share applies to all believers. When we choose to let God restore us, giving Him praise, others who are struggling will be encouraged. And we’ll have the chance to show them more of God’s goodness and glory.
Later in chapter 61, Isaiah voices his own appreciation and passion:
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10) --Heather Andrews; What is a Garment of Praise 6/24/24
And when life makes us weary or tears us down, our thoughts will return more quickly to the Lord who loves us, and who has proved His faithfulness over and over. That will stir our hearts to reach for Him with worship on our lips.
Isaiah’s words were meant to give hope to a nation in anguish. The truth they share applies to all believers. When we choose to let God restore us, giving Him praise, others who are struggling will be encouraged. And we’ll have the chance to show them more of God’s goodness and glory.
Later in chapter 61, Isaiah voices his own appreciation and passion:
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10) --Heather Andrews; What is a Garment of Praise 6/24/24