Silly to say that before my pregnancy and even years after, I still believed that having the right clothes would define me. I don't know why I adopted that "belief" but I always noticed the “pretty girls” and the styles that were in “season” were never anything that I could afford. Truthfully speaking, I can’t even remember going to the mall much.
Even now that I’m fifty years old, I don’t go to the mall. And the funny part is that now, I can if I wanted to. How ironic that now that I have the money to buy the “designer” label, I no longer desire it? I remember reading a book buy Eckhart Tolle, once referring to fashion, in which he stated, "If everyone could afford [it] we wouldn't want it as much." Knowing my insecurities back then, I still would have wanted them :-)
Anyway, I talk all this talk about "clothes" because whenever I read the following scripture, I’m astonished that what I wore was of no real significance in the eyes of God.
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (NIV)
Knowing that the One who created me was much more concerned about my “Spiritual disposition” than He was about my outer appearance brings me to a complete rest. Resting in the fact that I can wear something from Wal-mart and be pleasing in His eyes as opposed to having the best and latest fashion with no compassion, no kindness, no humility, no gentleness and on patience.
How incredible and eye-opening is that truth?
All those years of putting on clothes, shoes, jewelry and even a little make-up meant nothing to God if I were not clothe in His righteous. All those years of wanting to impress [others] and wanting to fit in held little significance if my heart was not in alignment with His Word.
1 Samuel 16:7 "... But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height,...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
It is so freeing knowing that I can be me and I can play “dress up” in fashions as simple as Marshalls and Target or something a bit more upscale like Lord and Taylor and #still be pleasing and acceptable not in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of my Father; the One who matters most and the One who has clothe me with His Spirit of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I know that I am completely incapable of doing any of these without Him and knowing that I can rely on Him brings me to a complete rest in my spirit.
And to go deeper, I have to praise Him that I no longer clothe myself in the things of this world. I am no longer clothe in relationships that are not godly and that are outside His marriage covenant. I must admit that in the beginning, it was a lot easier to clothe myself in "Colossians" than it was to clothe myself in "Romans." Letting go of “someone that I loved” as opposed to letting go of that designer outfit what much more difficult. But, I clearly heard the voice of God saying that it was not only wrong, but it was not my [season] to be in a relationship. Jesus, the #lover of my soul, wanted me all to Himself and how could a girl say no to an invitation like that?!?!
Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus
Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (NIV)
-Yet, another day to praise Him...