Jerusalem, be strong and great again!
Holy city of God, clothe yourself with splendor!
The heathen will never enter your gates again.
Shake yourself free, Jerusalem!
Rise from the dust and sit on your throne!
Undo the chains that bind you,
captive people of Zion!
Isaiah 52:1-2 (TEV)

What an incredible passage of scripture, when we recognize God is talking to us. You are Jerusalem…you are Zion…and God is telling you and me to be strong and great again!

The truth is, we were infused with strength and greatness when we made Christ the Lord of our lives. So what happened? Simply put: LIFE!
Life happened. Wounds happened. Suffering happened. Words happened. Failures happened. Divorce happened. Bills happened.Anger happened. Illness happened. Loneliness happened. Disappointment happened.

Life can be cruel. But God’s Word in this passage says, “…be strong and great AGAIN!” How? By returning to who you were created to be–a woman clothed in splendor, sitting on her throne. You and I were meant to be beautiful and full of authority!

Well, you say, it didn’t turn out that way. I see no beauty, I feel no strength, and the chains around my neck are more of a reality than these words. This is where our obedience is essential. Read the passage again. It says, “Shake yourself free”, “Rise from the dust”, “Sit on your throne”, “Undo the chains”. These are all commands. Actions you and I must take to recapture our original identity.

Oh, we definitely have a fight on our hands. We have an active enemy who recognizes the power of a woman clothed in her originally-intended splendor. He’s been the victim of one who shakes herself free and rises from the dust, and it hasn’t been pretty for him. There is no more formidable foe than a child of God who recognizes and accepts her position on the throne of authority. You CAN shake yourself free! You CAN rise from the dust! You CAN undo the chains that bind you! Jesus has made the
way for you, and is waiting for your obedience. You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you!

Today is a perfect day to step into your God-given place of splendor, authority, and strength. Declare this Word over your life, and OBEY! The Kingdom of God is anxiously waiting for God’s women to rise up and be who they were created to be. The Kingdom needs you! Shake off the dust, sit on your throne, and be strong and great AGAIN!