Beauty For Ashes, huh?

I began to wonder how many people completely understood the meaning of my blog title, so if you don't this is for you.

About a year ago I began reading "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore, wonderful book! If you have never read a book by Beth Moore, boy do I recommend getting on that! She is an amazing writer, very down to earth and has a way with words that makes you love Jesus even more! Anyway...I love to read her books because she has a way of digging into God's word and making it real to me! I can definitely feel God grabbing me by the face and saying THIS IS FOR YOU! Funny how He is always right. :)

Breaking Free is about breaking the chains of our past that weigh us down and limit us from doing the will of God. One chapter is about God restoring our heart that is dirty from the stains of sin and making it beautiful again. Old Testament verses speak of people covering themselves in ashes and crying out to God for repentance. God says that He will replace our ashes and make us beautiful again.

Two years ago a messy break up left me in the pit of depression. I felt like I was covered with filth from the sin that got me into that pit. After weeks of prayer I began to hear God calling me by name and telling me that I do not belong there. He began to transform my thoughts and replaced my figurative ashes for beauty! I love the fact I can look back at this time and smile. I smile because during the toughest time I have faced so far, I began to develop a relationship with my Savior. I was more than a believer, I was becoming a do-er of the word. People think it is weird that I can reflect on a period in my life where I was cheated on by a boyfriend that I considered marrying and just laugh...God is just that good! I laugh at how ridiculous I was for putting more hope in him than in a God that has provided me with so much.

God is good. End of story. This is the verse that has gotten me out of that pit and the reason I will never follow anyone or anything else!

"I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live."
Psalm 116:1-2