The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
I know that I have read this in the bible before but it wasn't until a few weeks ago when I read it that it really weighed so heavy upon my heart. I mean I could not read it without sobbing because I heard God speaking this to me.
So when I came across this verse which is so powerful to me. I started working at the juvenile center 5 years ago and really I just needed a job. I was going into social work and it seemed right. NEVER did I imagine I would fall in love with my job and grow such a strong passion for the youth that I serve. Never did I imagine the heartache and heartbreak I would feel for these "inmates". I just wanted them to know that someone cared I wanted to be a vision of Christ's love to them. 5 years later and 100's of kids later I have hundreds of kids who I am confident is knowing that they know that I care about them and they know I don't judge them for what they have done and that's because of my personal belief in God because of all the things I have done he still loves me and forgives me and it allows me to see them without judgment. I still cannot fully tell you how important this message in the Bible means to me. Except that it still brings me to tears when I read it. He has sent me to preach the good news and to show Christ's love to the brokenhearted so that they may begin to heal. I make this my prayer and I pray that God use me to the fullest capacity that he can that I am not content with just mediocre. I want to do more its a burning desire in my heart to do more. Let me be obedient in what you ask of me father God and help me to hear you more clearly and do as you ask of me. Amen
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