Isaiah 61:10-11
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord. My soul will celebrate because of my God, for he has clothed me in garments of salvation. With a robe of righteousness, he covered me, like a bridegroom who wears a beautiful headdress like a priest, and like a bride who adorns herself with her jewelry. For as the earth produces its growth, and as a garden causes what has been sown to sprout up, so God the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up in the presence of all the nations.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Let us also rejoice, knowing that Jesus’ righteousness has covered all our sins. Allow us to look honestly at ourselves and all the loveless things we have thought, said, and done; we realize we are far from the picture of perfection. Yet, despite and because of all our disobedience, you sent your Son to cover us with his righteousness; we are clothed in his garment of salvation—covered in his blood. As he went to the cross and was adorned with the stripes of the scourge for our sins, his beautiful headdress was the crown of thorns. Lord, while the bride adorns herself with jewelry for her groom, may we not forget the jewelry of his hands and feet, adorned with pierced nails that suspended him between heaven and earth.
Forgive us all our sins. You allowed all this to happen to restore us to you. We pray that you will sustain and keep us in our faith. Please cause it to sprout and flourish so that we will always know and trust the love and mercy you have for us. Let your word be spread worldwide so that many will know, trust, and believe in you; let your righteousness sprout up.
Thank you for all you have done to cover us in salvation and restore us to you; may we never take your gift of love and mercy for granted. Instead, let us share this good news of salvation, your mercy, and love with those we know so that they will have faith sprout in them. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Know all God has done to make salvation and eternal life possible; he wants you to be in heaven with him for eternity. However, no one is ever forced to receive his gifts; they come to us by faith in His Son, Jesus, who covers you in his righteousness.