Rise from the Ashes is written for the woman who cries out, "My life wasn't supposed to be this way!" She's gone through a scorched earth experience and sees her life in ashes. It could be the loss of a loved one, health, financial hardship, job loss or she hasn't been loved well by those close to her. It could be an unrealized dream. Maybe she wanted to marry, have children, a forever marriage, but this never happened in her life. She's on her knees...
Why is Rise from the Ashes for these women? A woman has a choice to stand and grow from a scorched earth experience or remain in the ashes and never become who God created her to be. God doesn't want that.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 NIV). No matter what a woman has gone through, God can work something good out of it. And His promise is enough to get her to stand up and rise from the ashes. Now she’s standing, so what’s this about being called according to God’s purpose? "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29 NIV). God’s purpose for us is to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. When a woman chooses to rise from the ashes she'll grow toward God's purpose when she builds a relationship with Jesus. What does building a relationship with Jesus have to do with God’s purpose for her? A relationship with Jesus will begin a transformation in her. This has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
She'll experience change from the inside out. Her priorities shift. What she once thought important is no longer important. She'll begin to see what's going on around her from God's perspective and not her own. The changes inside may be dramatic or subtle--God determines how He'll work in her--but there'll be change. What makes you qualified to write this? Rise from the Ashes, is a testimony to Jesus. I've been through scorched earth experiences - some because I lived by my will and not God's will and others as a consequence of living in a fallen world. But God's love and faithfulness turned the bad to the good in my life - He brought me into relationship with His Son.
I've experienced comfort, healing, peace, love, a new purpose and identity because of my relationship with Jesus. I want the same for you.
