What to Wear
By Elizabeth Cole
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.”
Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
There she stands, just minding her own business and doing her job. Then, out of nowhere, a wily couple sneaks up to this unwitting “victim,” surprising her with humiliating, secret videotapes of her horrific clothing choices this past month. In front of her conspiring coworkers, she’s offered a loaded Visa card and an opportunity to change her fashion life forever.By Elizabeth Cole
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.”
Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
One of reality television’s most successful makeover shows, What Not to Wear, draws a huge crowd of fans every Friday night as Stacey and Clinton transform their next subject from common to cultivated.
There’s one little catch to the show. In order to avail herself of the thousands of dollars in new clothing, the subject has to discard her entire previous wardrobe, undergarments included. Really, what a deal! I have to admit, it makes me laugh to see the really awful clothes some of these women can’t bear to toss. (Yes, I’m fully aware of the irony…but my favorite sweatshirt from 1985 is almost vintage, at this point.) I cheer Clinton on as he wrestles the worst from their hands and drops it into a gleaming silver trashcan. Every once in awhile, someone tries to clandestinely recover what’s been thrown out. I’m shocked at the audacity…and then I celebrate Stacey’s quick recovery, retrieving and replacing it right where it belongs.
It makes me wonder, any chance we have some clothes in our spiritual wardrobes that belong in the same place?
Pride? Toss it. We’re called to clothe ourselves with a servant’s apron and put on humility toward one another.
Self-absorption? Can’t stay. As God’s dearly beloved, we have the privilege of clothing ourselves with compassion and kindness toward others.
Fear? Yeah, that needs to be discarded. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
God is so single-focused on our becoming His best version of ourselves (one that reflects His character) that He insists we get rid of the old to make way for His new. New foundations, new clothing, new strength, new dignity, new confidence.
Any chance we’re trying to put God’s clothing over the top of ratty old fear and pride? It won’t work; God doesn’t promote layering. Take it off, put it where it belongs…for good. For your good, and because of His goodness.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity”…now that’s something to wear!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What’s hanging in your spiritual closet that you know needs to go? Ask the Spirit of Christ to help you toss it once and for all.
2. Reviewing the verses below, ask God which spiritual garment He’s especially interested in your wearing today.
FURTHER READING:
I Peter 5:5; Colossians 3:1-17; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:26-27
Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.
