Divine Exchange
As I was praying and spending time with the Lord, I heard the words “Divine Exchange”. What immediately came to mind was the well known scriptures of the Good News of Salvation in the book of Isaiah. To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.
In further pondering on these words and what specifically God wanted to say to His people, I looked up their meanings. According to the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, the definition of “Divine” is of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God. The definition of “Exchange” is reciprocal giving and receiving; something offered, given, or received in an exchange.
As I meditated on these words, I recalled an encounter I had with the Lord during worship one evening. As I closed my eyes, Jesus appeared before me in a long white robe. He reached for my hands and as I reached for Him, He started to dance with me. As we swayed back and forth, gazing into each other’s eyes, the scene shifted to this great big golden throne and a golden scepter being extended out. As I stared in amazement, I felt a crown being placed on my head and a robe being wrapped around me. It was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. The weight of the robe was like no garment I have ever known in the natural. This encounter was beyond what I could understand or fathom in my finite thinking, as I was fairly new to the Lord and didn’t really have context to what I saw and felt.
At the time, I was coming out of a very dark period in my life where I was bound in fear, anxiety, hopelessness, hurt and patterns of self-destructive behavior. I knew I was not going to make it out without surrendering it all to Jesus. He was my only hope. He showed up for me that day and revealed my true identity. He continues to do so to this day throughout His word and relationship with Him. Jesus says to us in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
I find that as we grow and mature in the Lord, there is a process that occurs through intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The way to greater intimacy requires trust, vulnerability, and an open heart to allow the Lord to work in and through us. Intimacy requires the ability to give and receive.
As we partner with Holy Spirit on our journey towards greater access and depths of His presence and into our God given destiny, it can be quite stretching and very uncomfortable. This is the place where full surrender, faith and trust in Him, truly moves mountains.
The Lord is saying to you on today, the Breaker is here and I have come with new garments for my beloved sons and daughters. The old has gone and the new is here. Throw off those old tattered garments of yesterday and receive your upgrades on today. As I come to you with open arms, inviting you into greater intimacy, I want to show you great and mighty things which you do not know. I have seen all that you’ve endured, the attacks, the back biting and jealousy, the hurt, the disappointment, the lack, the rejection and the suffering. Yet, you have stayed the course and pressed forward. You kept your eyes on Me. I was with you in the storm and I am your great reward. I am taking you to a whole new level. This is a time of promotion, elevation, greater freedom, forward progress and doors of opportunity. Your breakthrough is here and now!
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 61:3
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3
