Then…. when Philip starts to  get free  of his wonderful self… that  new Life  in him (that has replaced his old life),  now  enables Philip  to offer that  same Life  to others in Zion… to others still in mourning… to others still grieving… so they too can be  set free… and enabled to share  His wonderful new Life  with others…

“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.”

No longer does Philip  beat himself up  over all the stuff still left in his life… no longer does he grovel in  “sackcloth and ashes”  asking for forgiveness, saying he is so sorry again,  promising to stop it all this time, promising to change his ways… all of that  stuff  that depended on Philip to accomplish… to get his act together… NO MORE !!!

Now… Philip just  agrees with God  about that next thing He shows me that needs to go… thanking Him for  showing it  to me and  asking Him  to take that one out of my life… replace that  old life thing with  His New Life…  the ashes are gone… the sackcloth is gone…. the groveling is gone… He has replaced them  with His crown of beauty… His oil of joy instead of mourning…

then, of course, there is His garment of praise…  on the ‘morrow!

🙂