Nothing to Wear
Posted in Daily Focus on Saturday, July 26, 2014
Teaching our young children to dress themselves in the morning takes patience. We painstakingly wait as they learn to manipulate buttons, zippers, and shoelaces. However, by far the most agonizing aspect of the morning ritual of getting dressed is the statement, "I can't find anything to wear." As mothers, we realize this statement doesn't mean there is nothing in the drawers and closets, nor does it mean your children have not looked hard enough. What they really are saying is they think the clothes available to them are not good enough for them to wear.
As adults, we dress ourselves in the same fashion. We waste our time manipulating the outward appearance because we worry about what other people think. Instead, we should be going to the closet of God's Word and choosing to dress ourselves according to His wardrobe. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Colossians 3:12-14). Do we desire to dress in the "clothes" God has given us, or do we continue to "not find anything to wear"?
Becoming more Christ-like is the ultimate goal for us as homeschooling parents. The Lord does not look on the outward appearance of man, but at the heart, as when Samuel was led by the Lord to anoint David to be king. Choosing to dress ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love is what He can use the most to influence our children and teach them how to live godly lives.
So, what will you put on this morning? Look to His Word, find the clothes that fit, and reflect God's character to your family and your world. All the academics you teach will not have as lasting of a value as modeling the love of Jesus Christ in your words and actions. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
Father, thank You for giving me the opportunity to dress in the character of Christ. Show me those areas in which I have forgotten to put on the "clothes" You have provided. Help me to reflect Your Son in all I do and say this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(10 comments)
HEIDI D 07/26/2009 11:39:27
I must say I enjoyed reading this very much. It is hard in the world today to take the time needed to make sure we put on the character of God each day. My prayer would be very similar to the one in this post. I need to remember that all things are possible through Jesus Christ our Lord!
DEE H 07/26/2010 05:19:31
So right on! My Five year old just said to me..."I have Nothing to wear!" Now I can share the good news with my family that we have a an array of clothing to wear each day that not only suits our needs But allows us to shine! Putting on Jesus His Love,character,forgiveness,mercy,and grace.Heavenly clothing! Let Us continue to clothe ourselves and reflect the Lord in our home each day! Good News!
CHERYL F 07/26/2011 07:38:27
I have really enjoyed these daily devotions. The only "criticism" I have (if you can call it that) is I wish the Scripture references were in the NIV or another easier to understand version. King James is great, but not very easy to read wading through all the "thees and thous".
GLENDA G 07/26/2012 05:36:35
I was convicted as I read this devotion this morning. I continually want to "look the part" of a Pastor's wife, while sometimes taking out my frustrations on my family. It truly is more godly to put on humility and kindness, than to have the world's applause in your appearance. This is my third day receiving these devotions, and as a homeschooling mother, each one has been a blessing. Thank you for using the King James Version of the Bible. Without it, I wouldn't be able to read these :)
MARLENE T 07/26/2012 07:29:14
Readers, I must say I was so convicted after reading this devotion. All, please pray that this mother of six will have consistency in going to the wardrobe of God to dress herself daily.
SYLVIA H 07/26/2012 07:54:15
I too want to thank you for using the KJV of the Bible, that\'s another reason that I like your devotionals so much. If you look into it the NIV leaves out so many important verses. May Goid bless you for this ministry, so often its jsut what is needed in our lives.
KATHY S 07/26/2012 08:26:05
\"What to wear\". Did this ever hit home for me. My son who I always ask do you need a new shirt? Always says \"no, I have plenty of shirts\". Or wahtever the peice of clothing it may be. If it wasn\'t for his Grandma and I making sure that he had enough to wear, it wouldn\'t bother him a bit, and he\'s 13yrs old.
Me on the other hand, this devotional was meant for. Ever since I put weight on, I\'m always looking for that one item of clothing that will make me \"pretty\" again.
Now I see that the one item I\'m missing is the item of \"God\'s word\" surrounding me.
Thank you AOP.
TABITHA J 07/26/2012 15:53:21
This does hit me home because I am so picky on what clothes to wear, especially when I go clothes shopping: comfortable, modest, and easy to care for, and if it looks good on me. Lately, I been working on dressing according to God\'s standards, not the worldly standards.
Also, for those that complain about the verses in KJV: If you could understand reading a Shakespeare play in high school or college, you can understand the KJV.
KAREN G 07/26/2012 19:37:06
This is so timely!! I just got back from a book discussion grp discussing Kelly Minters called THE FITTING ROOM (putting on the character of Christ). I highly recommend it!!
MARY HESTER 07/26/2013 13:47:29
If she says she has a hard time reading kjv then she has a hard time reading it. It's not necessary to say anything more. Her comment was an opinion and not given untactfully. As long as these posts are Biblical and edifying, I will read them no matter the version of the scripture references.
I hope the poor NIV lady wasn't looking for any sense of community or belonging here because I don't think she would have found it today.
Think before you post. There may be no faces here but these are real people and they're all different from you and that's not a bad thing.