Isaiah 61:1-3, 10: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; 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.”
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
GOD has us covered—heart, mind, and soul—in His everlasting love, in His Son JESUS, and in His HOLY SPIRIT.
After we REPENT and SURRENDER, confessing our sins, and ACCEPTING CHRIST JESUS as our LORD, SAVIOR, REDEEMER, DELIVERER, PROTECTOR, and PROVIDER, we are SAVED, FORGIVEN of our SINS, CLEANSED of ALL UNRIGTHEOUSNESS, RECONCILED to GOD the Father, and FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT.
Then as we walk in faith, abiding in GOD’s WORD, praying without ceasing, and living in and unto JESUS, GOD offers us His ARMOR; He gives us CROWNS of GLORY, LIFE, and RIGHTEOUSNESS; and He promises us that He shall never leave or forsake us, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, that all things will work together for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose, and that nothing shall separate us from His love.
GOD assures us that He has not given us the spirit of fear but of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND and that we are OVERCOMERS and MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us, and He urges us to be not afraid but be STRONG and COURAGEOUS, for He is with us wherever we go, even unto the ends of the earth.
Then, as we PERSEVERE in FAITH, confronting and overcoming all adversity in CHRIST JESUS—in HIS NAME—GOD SHIELDS us with HIS ARMOR: the HELMET of SALVATION, the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS, the BELT of TRUTH, SHOES SHOD with the PREPARATION of the GOSPEL of PEACE, the SHIELD of FAITH, and the SWORD of the SPIRIT (GOD’s WORD), and GOD ADORNS us for VICTORY and CELEBRATION as the bejeweled, beloved, and divinely gifted BRIDE of CHRIST in GARMENTS of SALVATION, GARMENTS of PRAISE and ROBES of RIGHTEOUSNESS as we await our GOOD, FAITHFUL, LOVING and MAJESTIC BRIDEGROOM, JESUS, and His triumphant return.
In His love then, GOD is forever giving and ever with us, giving us GOOD GIFTS, UNMERITED BLESSINGS, and EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, and as we surrender all to Him and trust Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, He continually shields, protects, and covers us: in His love, with His Blood, in His WORD, and through His Spirit.
Therefore, we are not powerless, defenseless, or alone, nor should we walk in shame or fear, for we are not naked, defeated, helpless, in poverty, or in lack.
We are STRONG and COURAGEOUS, OVERCOMERS and MORE THAN CONQUERORS; we are PRAYER WARRIORS and ANOINTED SERVANTS.
We are SONS and DAUGHTERS of the KING of kings and LORD of lords, ADOPTED into GOD’s FAMILY.
We are PECULIAR PEOPLE and CITIZENS of HEAVEN; we’re a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, TEMPLES of the HOLY SPIRIT; and we are the BODY; we are the BRIDE of CHRIST clothed and covered in ROYAL GARMENTS--GOD’s APPAREL--with everlasting crowns, garments, and robes—not for our glory but His—GOD’s.
