What should I wear today?

Do you ever of those days where you can't decide what to wear? Days when you try on just about everything you own and still don't like any of the outfits you've tried? I do. Not nearly as often as I did in high school, but I still have them.

You do too. Don't you?!

Toben's mother gave me a new prayer book for Christmas. This one. And I'm totally loving it. Part of this prayer book is keeping a journal along with it and I'm loving journaling again--something I've done off and on in my life, but lately off.

Anyway...

One of the Scripture readings yesterday included Colossians 3:12-14. Here's what it says:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Here's how it reads in The Message:

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Isn't that amazing? "What should I wear today?" is a question I ask myself every single day. And here's the answer. As a response to being chosen and holy and dearly loved by God, this is what I should wear:

compassion (compassion suffers with others),
kindness (kindness tenders),
humility (humility means trusting God and others with who I really am),
gentleness (gentleness bows),
patience (patience waits),
forgiveness (this Greek word means putting up with those things about other people that aren't going to change, those things that bug me),
and love (love never fails).

I must clothe myself--put it on--get dressed. These things--these character traits--don't come from me. They come from God and I must put them on. Every day.

I think I need to print this out and hang it up in my closet. Where I'll see it every single day when I'm deciding what to wear. Because without these things, it doesn't really matter what outfit I choose. I may look cute on the outside, but God's looking at my heart.

Comments

[Susan]

This falls right in line with something my friend, Carrie, said in Sunday school this morning regarding marriage:

I need to get up every morning and say to myself, 'what am I going to do for my spouse today?'

All of the "clothing" you mentioned seems to fit perfectly with that thought, doesn't it?

I think printing it out and putting it in my closet is an EXCELLENT idea!

Hugs!

[missi smith]

Dear Joanne-

Your note today was beautifully put and a good reminder of what really matters. I need this handy in my closet also for when I feel like I have nothing to wear, don't feel pretty, etc. Have a good week. Missi

[Amy @ By His Grace]

Wow,thank for the a most humbling reminder of our true "outfit" for God. God Bless!

[Katy]

I love this!!! Soo true! Thank you so much for sharing!!! :)

[Karen]

What a great idea, Joanne! I'm going to print that passage and put it in my closet, too! What a great way to remember what our Lord finds most attractive about us! :-)

[LaDonna]

What a beautiful lesson! Where were you when I was a teenager?? *sigh* better late than never . . . a beautiful lesson that I shall pass on to my daughters. Thanks to you, they won't be as fashion-obsessed as their mother was! :)

[NYC]

I think I may print out that passage and place it in my closet and in my purse :)

[cheryl]

Wow! I'm going to print out this and put it in my closet as well! Thanks for sharing!

[Angie]

Wow, that was great, Joanne! I might use that as a devo for my group some morning, if that's okay. That was so well thought out and practical. I'm going to put that up in my closet too, or maybe on my bathroom mirror. Or maybe make a wallet size version that I can see just before I use my credit card to buy that outfit I MUST HAVE!

[Bev Brandon]

What should I wear?
I'll remember this one for a long time...
thanks Joanne.