Awake, awake; put on thy strength

* Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem - Isaiah 52:1
* Provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3

In those days, people tore their garments, wore sackcloth and sat down in the dust when they were mourning over someone / something. The verses here are direct calls to Zion (Israel) to awake from its mourning and put on her strength and her beautiful garments.

The Lord is our strength (Exodus 15:7, Psalm 28:7); the beautiful garment is the salvation through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:10). When we put on the Lord as our strength and wear the garment of righteousness then we will have a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

 Oh! Love your lovely garment this morning...! I see you have put on your Strength too. Have a blessed day!