Dressing

We do it everyday.  We get dressed.  We look in out closets, check out the weather, pick out what we believe is appropriate for the day.  Do we want to dress up, or is it a lazy day, casual and comfortable. Pants or a skirt, do we put on earrings or a necklace.  Suit and tie or is is a sweater?  Sometimes our time and energy level lends a hand in the decision of what gets put on these old bodies of ours before we walk out the door to face the world. 

We are now in the book of Proverbs for our Sunday morning Bible study.  I started noticing some of Solomon's words giving us instruction on what I would consider our jewelry.  This has me thinking, along with our physical clothes each day, we need to be putting on our spiritual attire too.  More important than what we look like is where our heart is.   We represent the Almighty God.  Looking clean and nice is good.  Acting and speaking in humility, righteousness and love is even better. 

Proverbs 3:3  Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!  Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart.

Proverbs 3:21-22  My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment.  Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul.  They are like jewels on a necklace.  

Proverbs 4:8-9  If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.  Embrace her, and she will honor you.  She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.

Before jewelry we put on our clothes.  The Bible gives us so many example of how we should be dressed....and almost all of them have to do with our spiritual "outfits" not what clothes we wear. 

Isaiah 61:10  I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:3  and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

1 Peter 3:3-4   Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

And of course, the most widely quoted or referenced clothes we wear comes from Ephesians 6....our battle dress, for we are in a war everyday.  The Lord provides all we need to be victorious over evil in this world. 

Ephesians 6:10-17  0 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

When I get dressed each day I want to make it a new habit to focus on the spiritual side of my dressing.  Perhaps just thinking about the things the Bible asks us to put on as we dress will put us in the right frame of mind to step out into the world and represent our Lord properly.  I put on praise, I put on your righteousness, humility.  Lord, let me put on kindness, patience....so on and so on.   So often we forget things in the heat of the moment or busyness of the day, but starting out in the right place will help us to set our hearts in a godly direction.  It's like one of those little memory tricks that help you remember names or dates.  This "dressing" trick will help us remember how to interact with people as we go about our day. 

God is so practical.  And I love that about Him.  I love that He comes up with these easy, everyday answers for our spiritual growth. 

Thank You Lord for being so "down to earth" and practical.  Let each of us wear our "God clothes" as we walk through our days with You.  We want to be worthy ambassadors for You.  Keep us "looking good!"  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Try thinking spiritually as you dress each day.