THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS

‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to comfort all who mourn, 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.’
Isaiah 61:1-3

Jesus came to address the problem of distress, pain and mourning among God’s people. He came to give a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. The Spirit of heaviness could mean a bitter spirit, a broken spirit or a state of mourning. Heaviness could also mean a blasted dream or vision. As a New year unfolds, some people have this strange heaviness. Some have heaviness when they feel they are not meeting their timelines. Sometimes people have this spirit when they have a besetting sin they cannot conquer; when there is a continuous battle within and without. Others feel that Christianity has not delivered on its promise.

Whatsoever it is, the spirit of heaviness is counterproductive. It affects the person bearing it. It affects your judgement. It doesn’t allow you to look at issues objectively. It destroys your joy. You are not joyful, buoyant or glad. Heaviness makes you jealous and affects the journey to the Promised Land; it jeopardizes your outcome.

How do we deal with the spirit of heaviness?

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN ALL SITUATIONS
You must protect your head. The head is the seat of intellect; it controls our being. Keep control of your head in all circumstances. Take heed unto thyself. You are responsible for yourself. The Psalmist says, ‘…You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’ (Psalm 23:5). The helmet of salvation protects our head. Exercise habitual self control. Subject every thought and imagination that comes to your head under God’s control. When the pressure is high, don’t lose your head. Don’t lose your mind. Don’t throw in the towel. Think about joyful things. ‘Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away’ (Isaiah 51:11).

KEEP YOUR HEART
Keep your heart, your sensibility, your affections, and your emotions. Guard your emotions. Proverbs 4:23 says, ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ Our Lord Jesus Christ encouraged in John 16:33, ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ Paul wrote, ‘Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful’ (Colossians 3:15).

GO BACK TO GOD
Believe in God. Go back to God. In His presence, you can say it all. We get the garment of praise when we go to God as our helper. When things got tough around Jesus, he went to the mountain to pray alone. Vain is the help that comes from Man. The Psalmist says, ‘I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?’ My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’ Those who are blocking the plan of God for your life are those you trust. Look up to God and He will help you. Psalm 34:5 says, ‘They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.’

KEEP HOPE ALIVE
Amidst the difficulties of life, you must keep hope alive. The trials should push you forward. Your situation happened for the furtherance of the gospel. Apostle Paul told the Philippians, ‘Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ’ (Phil 1:12-13). When you are calm and composed, God’s invisible power will fight for you.

No one can quench your light as long as you are working in the principles of God. In the process of your journey, you get fit and you use the situation as a learning curve for greatness. You move from shouting and ranting to being a person of grace. God is preparing you for greater things ahead. Keep hoping, keep believing; keep trusting.

God bless you.