Gloriosa Superba Flame Lily

Beauty for Ashes!

By Helen Jesze, 21^st August 2020

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me…to comfort all who mourn, and 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,”

Is. 61, 1+2 NIV

Recently I was reading of the wild fires on the African veld. Different to the raging infernos with longer grass and vegetation on the prairies, the veld grass is shorter so the flames are smaller. Lines of fire like a twisting snake run in and out of the valleys and up the still shorter grass on the mountains. Next day, there is only a black, charred, barren landscape left, but after a few days, many types of marvellous Fire-Lilies or Flame-Lilies spring up from the ground, like tongues of scarlet and yellow flames, bringing amazing beauty from the ashes! A chemical in the smoke is released and this is what brings these special lilies to perfect bloom!

This reminded me of a prophetic Word the Lord gave me in 2015, and as it goes very well with this “lily” message, I would like to share it with you:

“Beloved Child, it’s time for you to arise out of the ashes, to arise out of the ashes of defeat, of past experiences which have burnt down around you, to arise from where you are sitting in a place of passiveness and grief and to take your place again in Life!

You are sitting grieving for what has been. Your house of dreams, your aspirations and ambitions, that relationship tragically broken – one thing after another which you see in ashes today, and because that seemed to be the only thing you had left, you have sat and wallowed in the ashes of these now burnt-down experiences.

My Child, some of these fires in your life were from the enemy, Satan. He has burnt your harvest, caused things to go up in smoke and you are now staring at those ashes, desperately trying to hold on to the residue that is left, which has no substance or likeness to what you have lost.

Some of these ‘fires’ you have gone through have been made by yourself. Often not knowing which way to go, or deliberately going against my Word, in disobedience you have opened yourself up to sin or for you to be harmed, and ashes are all you have left.

Other fires I myself, have caused, for there were things hindering you in your life. Your life was in some areas like a pack of cards, unstable, built up in a moment with no foundation and made to a wild pattern which had no resemblance to my plan for you. Those things I have caused to burn down, so that I might build again according to my plan and purpose.

Your eyes have been constantly on a limited horizon but you do not realise that your sight and view are limited because you are so deep in your ‘ashes’. If you would arise, your view would become clearer and your horizon would become larger and wider. You would see the new things that I have prepared, the new day dawning, the new sunrise!

The greyness of the ashes which has smothered you will be turned to vibrant colour, painted by my hand across the canvas of your life, awakening your spiritual senses, filling you with the joy of living once again; bringing new hope and faith and vision!

You have even taken the ashes and smeared them on your forehead and body, poured them over you as a sign of mourning. But I would remind you that you have been called to LIFE not to Death, this sign of desperation does not belong to you. You are a Child of the King and of Eternal Day, translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, bought with my sinless blood – no price could be greater.

When you rise up from out of the ashes, you will see that I have been at work even when you did not see it. You thought you were surrounded by barrenness, nothing was happening, no growth or fruitfulness, but you are mistaken! I have been clearing the undergrowth away, making place for new paths, building new foundations, already building up around you. Some things I will build into your life. Other things you must build, but I have already been doing preparation work and will supply all you need for this.

Even as King David prepared building materials and contents for the Temple which his son, Solomon, was later to build, so I am investing in your future, drawing together what is necessary for you to become strong and to walk with me in newness of Life.

Do not say: I have no strength to arise, it takes too much effort; I am past all that; let others do it, I will stay where I am – No! Even as you make the decision to arise and take that first step, I will come to help you! Shake off the dust and the chains and arise, step out in my Name, says the Lord.

Take the water of my Word and of my Spirit and wash yourself clean from all the ashes. The water of your tears has turned them to a filthy mess, but washed by my Word, you will become pure and sparkling, clothed anew with beauty – instead of ashes. The time for anointing has come! Anointing is with oil, symbolic of my Holy Spirit, anointed for beauty and for strength and I will clothe you with fresh garments – the garment of praise for your heaviness.

My daughter, my son, arise from your ash-heap — TODAY!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I will arise and step out of my ashes today! I shake off the dust, the ashes and the chains which have clung to me. Pour your strength through me, wash me clean, anoint me with fresh oil! By faith I see you clothing me with new garments to bring praise to your Name! I step into the new day you have for me! Out of every mess you will make a message, fruitfulness will replace barrenness, ‘lilies’ will arise from the smoke bringing beauty, colour, delight, comfort, resurrection life! With you there is always a new beginning! Thank you, precious Saviour. Amen.