Today’s Petals Of Wisdom Devotion was written by Jessica Galán

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion;

Put on your beautiful garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city;

 For there shall no more come into you

The uncircumcised and the unclean.

Shake yourself from the dust and arise;

 Be seated, O Jerusalem;

Loose the bonds from your neck,

 O Captive daughter of Zion—Isaiah 52:1-2, (ESV)

Sometimes fear and uncertainty snakes around my ankles, suddenly, I’m knocked to the ground by invisible ‘What-if” opponents. Silly fear becomes my bondage. Worry holds my mind captive.

When my mind wanders, I grab hold of my sword—The Word of Power. –Tweet this!

The prophet Isaiah reminds me to “shake yourself from the dust and arise.”

Maybe the ‘beautiful garment’ Isaiah spoke of is needed compassion—your ‘bondage’ is judgement.

Perhaps what’s holding you ‘captive’ is offense—the Holy Spirit nudges you to release your offender.

In this temporary life, we battle for what’s most precious:

• Our children
• Our marriages
• Loved ones who haven’t yet surrendered to the Divine Excavator of Hearts
• Unanswered prayers
• Unmet dreams and desires

Temporary glints of glimmer vie for our attention:

• Invitations from hip and happening worldliness
• Garnering success or acclaim—no matter the cost
• Offers from people who aren’t fully operating in His Light

Before we know it, a thin film of ‘worldly dust’ settles upon us, the light of hope cannot penetrate our hearts.

We journey. Amidst an unclean world, a world rich in temporary traps—unknowingly held captive to earthly mirages that become a film of dust on our ‘soul-skin’.

Don’t fall, friend. Ask Christ to awaken you within.

Prayer:

“Woman Warrior of God—I challenge you: remain pure. I implore you to grab hold of the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. Because this life brings stumbling blocks. Daughter of Zion, arise. Your spiritual strength will come, when you dust yourself off and battle for Kingdom-Come. Amen!”

 

Meet Jessica Galán:

Jessica encourages her readers to embrace MALLEABILITY in the midst of life’s difficult moments. She spends her day teaching amazing students from diverse backgrounds in Fairfield County, Connecticut. She’s wife to a super-creative guy and the proud mother of three resilient young women. She enjoys daily cups of steaming hot café con leche and breaks out in sporadic salsa dancing when no one’s looking.

You’ll find her stories at www.malleableheart.com.

Connect with Jessica: on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook

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Thank you for following along today. I hope you were encouraged and inspired by Jessica’s words. ~Kelly

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