Isaiah 61 begins with “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor…”
Then in verse three we read, what we have been given “…the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
The NIV Bible says “…the spirit of despair…”

There is an anxiousness and heaviness that abounds in the world and in our country today.  Even Christians experience weariness from time to time.  But that is not what Scripture says Christians are called to.  As the Apostle exhorts the Believer in Galatians 6:9,
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

In John 14:6, Jesus says,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

The Apostle John assures us in 1John 5:12,
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

It is the life of Christ that indwells us, therefore, we look to Him in all our circumstances.  He has given us the garment of praise! When we praise the Lord, the things of earth grow dim in the glory of the grace that He has shown.

And what is this praise?
Our praise to God is the means by which we express our joy to the Lord.  We praise Him for who he is (that’s adoration) and for what He has done and is doing (that’s thanksgiving).

How do we praise Him? 
*In song:
 “Sing praise to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
  Declare among the people His deeds.”  Psalm 9:11

*With instruments:
  “Praise the LORD with the harp;
   Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.  Psalm 33:2

*We praise universally/corporately:
  “Let the people praise You, O God;
   Let all the people praise You.”  Psalm 67:3

  “Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice,
   The villages that Kedar inhabits.
   Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,
   Let them shout from the top of the mountains.
   Let them give glory to the LORD,
   And declare His praise in the coastlands.”  Isaiah 42:11-12

*We praise perpetually:
  “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,  
   that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”  Hebrews 13:15

*The Apostle Peter gives us this awesome reason to give praise:
  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His  own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9
A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people!  That alone is reason to sing praise to our awesome Lord God and Savior!

So we heed what the writer of Hebrews tells us:
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2-3 
(Read verses 1-11 and rest in Christ as God does His work in each of our lives to make us complete.)

Lord God, we give You all praise, honor and glory for only You are worthy of it all.  Amen