And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.Mark 15:17–20 

This was no way to treat Heaven’s Prince! Purposefully, they crafted a brutal crown of shame. Did they know their crown was not fitting for a king much less the King of all kings? The thorns of guilt and shame were appropriate for a ruthless, harden criminal but not for sinless perfection. This crown of thorns should have been fashioned for us, and yet God’s sweet plan of redemption excused us from sin’s harsh reality. Because of Jesus, we have been crowned with God’s favor!   

Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.Acts 9:18 

Eyesight is precious. It opens the world to us. With our eyesight, we are able to see the smile of a child, a butterfly fluttering and the pain of the hurting. Yet just as our physical sight is limited by a range of distance that prevents us from seeing farther, so also is our spiritual sight often limited by our experiences and understanding. We can have 20/20 eyesight but still be spiritually blind. Ask the Lord today to open your eyes so that you’re able to look past your experiences and spiritually see with absolute clarity. 

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.James 1:12 

Are you in line to get your crown? Even knowing that you have to endure temptation first? Although enduring temptation definitely doesn’t sound like fun, it is wonderful to know that we don’t have to do this alone. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Jesus left the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this world. He will make a way out for you. Regardless of the temptation or its enticements, if you choose to love and obey God, there is a crown waiting. 

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.Ephesians 5:15–17

Time management experts often urge us to manage our time to provide more time for ourselves and things we enjoy. God’s thoughts are different. He wants us to manage—or redeem—our time for eternity’s sake. Walking circumspectly (watchfully and prudently) so others will be drawn to us is His will. Out of a heart of love, He longs and hungers for all mankind to know Him. He wants relationship with our neighbors, and we are the connecting point.

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”John 4:10 

Have you ever been offered a gift but refused it? Probably not; however, it is possible you may have received a gift and not realized its true value. Jesus offered the Samaritan woman at the well more than her mind could conceive. He offered her a gift that was new every day—a gift that kept giving. And Jesus is offering the same incredible gift to you. Today, explore its true value all over again.

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.John 12:3 

Mary worshipped Jesus extravagantly with costly perfume that filled the house with its fragrance. But notice that the perfume didn’t change the atmosphere of the house until Mary worshipped. Though costly and beautiful, it was bottled up with only potential. The humble expression of a worshipper unleashed a captivating aroma.  Within every woman, there is a potential that will not be released until we worship. There is a fragrance for all of us to reveal. Isn’t our God more than worthy of a heart lavishing love, adoration and praise? Worship Him extravagantly today.

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.Psalm 149:4 

Can you see the Lord smiling over you? Do you feel the kisses of His good pleasure? The Lord is not angry; you make His heart happy! He loves to pour out blessings on the humble of heart. Humility is attractive, and the Lord beautifies the humble. To be humble has everything to do with the quality of your heart, not with your position or status. The New Living Translation of Psalm 149:4 says, “He crowns the humble with salvation.” The humble are crowned! When you humbly seek God, He crowns your with salvation and beauty.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.Psalm 145:17–19 

God is righteous in all His ways. There isn’t any wrong motive in anything He does. He is always right. His ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are completely pure and without any malice or corruption. Yet He is also always gracious. Graciousness spills out in His works. Think about the times that He’s been gracious to you. Even when you didn’t deserve graciousness, He has always loved and protected you. The challenge is not to allow His graciousness to be taken for granted and lose the godly fear of God. Crying out to God is a privilege with promise for those who fear Him. In all of God’s majesty, He chooses to be near those who call to Him. In abundance of graciousness, He will hear and He will save.

“Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.”Song of Songs 1:6 

Why do we do it? How many times have we pointed out our weakness? “I am too fat.” “My nose is too big.”  “Don’t look at me, because I am dark,” responded a young bride pointing out what would seem obvious. Yet her bridegroom saw her differently. In Song of Songs 4:7, he tells her, “There is no spot in you.” Our God looks at His bride, and He can’t see the blemishes we see because of love’s perfect work in our lives. We see blemishes, but God sees purity. We see ugliness, but God sees beauty. We see limitations, but God sees potential.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Romans 12:1–2 

When we present ourselves to God, we give our lives into the hands of the One who gave us life. Being available or surrendered to God positions us to enjoy His manifest greatness. He moves in and through us most when we empty ourselves, allowing Him to refill us according to His plan. Surrender often has a negative connotation, but with God, we surrender to the more powerful, winning side—the ultimate Victor!