We Exchange the Ashes for Oil
Life often leaves us with ashes—the remains of what was, the evidence of pain, loss, and brokenness. Yet, God never intends for us to sit in the residue of what was destroyed. Instead, He invites us into a divine exchange: beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).
This exchange is not just a promise—it’s an invitation to step into a new season of healing, restoration, and purpose.
The Weight of Ashes
Ashes symbolize grief, shame, and the remnants of loss. In the Old Testament, people would sit in ashes as a sign of deep mourning and repentance. Job, in the midst of his suffering, said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).
Sometimes, our ashes come from trials beyond our control—loss, disappointment, rejection. Other times, they are the result of our own choices. Yet, no matter how the ashes came to be, God does not intend for us to remain covered in them.
The Oil of Joy: A Divine Exchange
God never removes something from our lives without replacing it with something better. In Isaiah 61:3, He declares that He will give us:
• Beauty for ashes – He restores and rebuilds what seemed lost. “And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought… and thou shalt be like a watered garden” (Isaiah 58:11).
• The oil of joy for mourning – He anoints us with gladness, turning our sorrow into strength. “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11).
• The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness – He empowers us to praise even in difficult seasons. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
How to Walk in the Exchange
1. Release the Ashes
Holding onto past pain, shame, or regret prevents us from receiving the new thing God has for us. Paul reminds us, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13).
2. Receive the Oil
Oil in Scripture represents the Holy Spirit’s anointing and empowerment. When we surrender to God, He fills us afresh: “But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil” (Psalm 92:10).
3. Put on Praise
Worship shifts our focus from what we lost to the One who restores. The enemy wants to keep us in despair, but praise breaks chains: “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… and suddenly there was a great earthquake” (Acts 16:25-26).
Your Story is Not Over
The ashes you see today are not the end of your story. God is making all things new. He is turning your mourning into dancing, your heaviness into praise. The divine exchange is already in motion—your only task is to receive it.
Will you trade your ashes for His oil?
Join Pastor Mahon and Preserving Life Center for a powerful Wednesday Night Service as we step into the divine exchange—trading ashes for oil, mourning for joy, and heaviness for praise!
🔥 Come expecting worship, revelation, and restoration! 🔥
📅 Wednesday Night (March 5th 2025)
📍 Preserving Life Center
🏢 28 West 128th Street, Harlem, NY
🕖 7:30 PM
Don’t miss this opportunity to be refreshed, renewed, and empowered. Bring a friend and come ready to receive!
Did you order your New Wine, New Oil Anointing Oil??? Click Link below, and remember you need new oil for your new season.
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