“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”—Isaiah 61:1-2

I came across a butterfly yesterday… 🦋

…it was trapped in our chicken coop. ⏳

—stuck in a spider web… 🕸

When I realized it was still alive,

I reached over and freed its wings from the web,

and then I opened the door of the coop, for it to go free. ☀️

The butterfly sat on my hand for a moment,

and then it took flight… 🦋🍃✨

It was a beautiful sight. 💖

Something about this struck me…

…and I saw it. 💖💡

Just like this butterfly…

There are many who are trapped in captivity.

Stuck in a web of lies and deceit.

And they’re headed for destruction. ☠️

…But Jesus “came to set the captives free.” ✨

He said,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”—Luke 4:18-21 ESV

And His work did not end…

when He physically left this earth to sit at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19)

…it was only the beginning of His ministry being done in the earth.

And now…

as His followers,

we get to take part

in the work of His heart. 💝☀️

“proclaiming liberty to the captives”

—setting the captives free.

Isn’t that amazing?

And we get to watch what He does, with eyes of wonder…

…the unfolding beauty 🌷

of Jesus giving captives freedom and flight 🦋

…into destiny and LIFE. 💗🎉

Thank You Lord Jesus, for setting us free, and for inviting us to take part, by Your Holy Spirit…

…in this ministry of Your compassionate heart. 💝

“…and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
³ to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
⁴ They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

⁵ Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
⁶ but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
    they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
    and in their glory you shall boast.
⁷ Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
    instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
    they shall have everlasting joy.

For I the Lord love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
    and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
    that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to sprout up before all the nations.”—Isaiah 61:2-11

Thank You, Father. 💝

-Heather 🌺