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.

 

Week after week, as people come here to Caney for a retreat or ministry, we see folks who are desperate. They are hurting deep down inside and cannot seem to find the answers they are looking for. Overwhelmed by the world situation, burdened with misery, held captive by sin or barely existing due to physical pain, they come searching for something. Perhaps it’s a Word from the Lord, a touch of the Master’s Hand, an answer to a question they have been pondering for a very long time, or just to feel the Presence of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Many times, these people are saved, born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They love the Lord, and yet, they are suffering. They come willing to trade their time to seek the Lord. This is time well traded because they leave renewed, restored, revived, rejuvenated, and rested. They have traded their time well.

 

The Lord wants to make trades with us. He wants to give us the Fruit of His Holy Spirit in trade for everything the enemy burdens us with. When we enter into a trade agreement with God, we will always come out ahead. We will trade up every time.  Entering into trade agreements with God is a no-brainer. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

In the natural, we make trades every day. We trade money for goods at the store. We trade one car for another. We trade cattle, horses, baseball cards, comic books, equipment, furniture, and houses. We trade everything, including our time and effort. We trade time at work for money so we can trade that money for something we want. Some people even trade one spouse for another. Life in the natural is a trading game.

 

Our spiritual life is a trading game as well. God wants to make some trades with us. God traded His Only Son for our eternal destiny and happiness. Jesus gave His Life on the Cross of Calvary for our sin. He did this so we can trade death for Life; everlasting life in Heaven with Him. Jesus also died that we may have abundant life here on earth. He wants to trade our misery and suffering for the Joy and Peace that passes all understanding. 

 

Isaiah said, 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. (Isaiah 61:2) God wants to give you beauty in trade for your ashes. He wants to give you joy in trade for your grief and mourning. For your heaviness and depression, He wants to give you the garment of praise in trade.  The Lord will trade your anxiety for peace. He will trade poverty for prosperity. He will trade death for life.Jesus said, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

 

Whatever the enemy has stricken you with, the Lord God Almighty wants to trade with you for something that will change your life forever and for the better. He wants you to be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that you may glorify Him.

 

All you have to do is be willing to make the trade. It’s a no-brainer. Make that trade today. Whatever it is, bring it to the trading table. Lay it down and pick up what the Lord has for you in trade. 

 

Only God can do this. Only He can……..turn the tide

 

Trading more every day,      Doreen

 

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