Crowns and The Coronavirus? WHAT?
It has been six months since the “Coronavirus” has blasted through our world wreaking havoc on the way we do life, rearranging our control, imparting separation, and social distancing, suffocating us with fear, killing loved ones, and stealing our breath.
THE COST HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. And we are all paying a price.
This pandemic has affected us all; And as I have been personally affected by this virus in my own body, I decided to take a little deeper dive into the meaning of the word “Corona”. What I found was stunning.
CORONA - in Latin means “CROWN”!! Wow!
“A crown or garland bestowed among the Romans as a reward for distinguished services.”
AND NOW....here we are. This “Corona Crown” we have been given does not seem like a reward. But we are definitely being distinguished. And no one is being discriminated against. We are ALL being crowned with something during these times. A crown of sickness, loss, grief, pain, sadness, separation, suffering, aloneness, frustration, anger, and fear. And even though it appears to have no end. It is not the end of our story.
Because, in the midst of the mask, the disconnect, the separation, the sickness, the distancing, the disagreeing, the rage, and the contaminating fear ------- there is more to the story!
More to my story - more to your story!
You see the truth is— there is another “CROWN” promised to us! The Crown of Life!!
And it is referred to in James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10; it is bestowed upon "those who persevere under trials." Jesus references this crown when he tells the Church in Smyrna to: "not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."
The Crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, victory, triumph, honor, and glory, as well as immortality, righteousness, and resurrection! And yet, this “crown” (coronavirus) has bestowed onto us so much pain, loss, sadness, separation, division, and fear.
SO,
LET US UNITE.
LET US HAVE FAITH.
LET US HOPE AGAIN.
LET US RISE.
AND LET US CLAIM THIS TRUTH OVER OUR LIVES:
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY – MY CREATOR,
You have brought us out from our comforts and false securities and into the unknown and uncertainty. We stand at the edge of our own personal “Red Sea”. A part of us wants to go back. Back to the familiar. But there is a calling within that leads us FORWARD into the powerful waters of new unknown FREEDOM’S!!! We feel the heaviness of the world’s crowns and we surrender them all to You now.
We trust that You have heard our cries and You are collectively bringing us into something NEW. And in this NEW, You are removing our crowns of pain, sickness, separation, failures, false identities, and fear and You are crowning us with VICTORY, BREATH, AND HOPE. You Crown us with LIFE!
THANK YOU. YOU ARE OUR VICTORY & HOPE.
Instead of a crown of sickness,
You Crown us with Healing (Shalom-Shalom).
Instead of a crown of brokenness,
You Crown us with Wholeness.
Instead of a crown of shame,
You Crown us with Confidence.
Instead of a crown of regret,
You Crown us with Restoration.
Instead of a crown of performance,
You Crown us with Presence.
Instead of a crown of ashes,
You crown us with Beauty.
Instead of a crown of humiliation,
You Crown us with Honor.
Instead of a crown of “not enough”,
You Crown us with “More than Enough”.
Instead of a crown of defeat,
You Crown us with Victory.
Instead of a crown of death,
You Crown us with Life.
Instead of a crown of despair,
You Crown us with Hope.
Instead of a crown of sadness,
You Crown us with Joy.
Instead of a crown of thorns,
You Crown us with Royalty.
Instead of a crown of separation,
You Crown us with Unity.
Instead of a crown of fear,
You Crown us with a new Faith!
Instead of a crown of regrets,
You Crown us with Resurrection!
Instead of a crown of loss,
You Crown us with Love.
Instead of a crown of chaos,
You Crown us with Peace.
Instead of a crown of worry,
You Crown us with Wonder.
Instead of a crown of mediocrity,
You Crown us with Majesty.
Instead of a crown of destruction,
You Crown us with TRIUMPH!
Instead of a crown of corruption,
You Crown us with Righteousness!
Crown us God with Your GLORY.
Show us Your Glory. Show us Your Glory.
We receive YOUR CROWN TODAY, GOD!
CROWN US WITH YOUR BREATH AND YOUR LIFE TODAY!
LET IT BE SO! AMEN!
“You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
“I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out as victor to conquer.”
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
(Rev. 2:10)
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor's crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4)
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