Clothe Yourselves...
Good Morning Ladies (and few gents),
A Thought for the Day: “Hope is something in short supply in this world we live in…Praise paves the way for hope, and hope is a gift we desperately need today.” extracted from The Praise Closet by Arlene Pellicane.
Well, we have reached the end of my writing week. And I would like to remind us all the power that praise serves us. Yes, we are to praise our Lord every day. As I shared with a client this week, we are to deposit praise into our day looking at it like a heavenly bank account, and when struggles come and they will, those are the withdraws, but best of all we never have to be concerned about an overdraft if we keep praise the center of all we say and do. Praise party anyone?
The school year 2020 has plagued many school-age children and parents alike. The hopes, wishes, and dreams of high school seniors and their last hurrah’s have wounded some deeper than others. Yet, many adults see their moping about, lack of interest, and in some cases early depression as whining, complaining and entitled. If we could only go back to that time in our lives and experience the pain we’ve tried desperately to forget and, in many cases, have forgotten. Today, we look through a lens of adult emotions and dismiss the pain our youth are feeling and then wonder why the relationship is strained. Ah, go figure!
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17 NIV
As Christ-followers, God tells us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These traits cannot be found just anywhere. They can only come from the Holy Spirit living in and through us.
The apostle Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day, that’s especially helpful within the circumstances many of us find ourselves:
imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude (vv. 12-13);
let love guide our life (v. 14);
let the peace of Christ rule in our heart (v. 15);
always be thankful (v. 15);
keep God’s Word in us at all times (v. 16);
live as Jesus Christ’s representative (v. 17).
May we be encouraged to clothe ourselves with godly characteristics that will cause us to shine as children of the King. It’s not easy sometimes, but let’s be intentional to do so before we leave our home.
Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,
DEA
