Dressed for Success

I’ve always been a tomboy. It’s no wonder I chose the college major of ‘Recreation Administration with a Camp Emphasis,’ hoping to one day work as a camp director. Needless to say, I am more comfortable in sweats and slippers, jeans and tennis shoes or shorts and flip flops.

After I graduated with my BA from Biola University, I knew I needed help and training in the area of how to dress. Let the training begin! I signed up for a modeling class, not to be a model, but how to dress like one. We learned how to gracefully walk, politely talk and how to coordinate our make-up hues with the colors of clothing we would wear. Finally, we were given lessons on how to take the clothes we already had in our closet and put them together to make a dynamite first impression on a future employer.

Very soon, I learned that dressing for success was more than just what I put on my body. Instead of settling for success, I chose to reach for victory to prepare my inner woman before I went to my closet.

Each day we have a choice to make. We have to get dressed. We must figure out what to wear to go to the gym, to work, to drive in the carpool, to go to Bible study, to walk the dog, to go to the grocery store. Usually the clothes we put on have to do with what our activity will be for the occasion.

The same principle is true for us spiritually. Every day we have a choice as we get dressed. We have two closets: one closet says on the door; “Chosen by God, holy and dearly loved.” The other closet door says, “Hand Me Downs: Smelly, Holey, but Familiar.”

Inside the first one are the new garments of your new life in Christ, your new identity, your new beginning. Inside the second closet are the tattered clothes with your fleshly label of making life work on your own. Inside the first closet are pieces of clothing with the character qualities of Jesus: faith, hope, love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control. Inside the second are rags to wear that say things like, rejection, fear, resentment, anger, self-protection, hatred, pride, withdrawn. The clothing from the second closet is familiar and can make you feel safe, but the reality is, they don’t really fit any more. They are worn out. They won’t keep you warm or protected.

“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). The new clothes in the first closet are the garments of light, handpicked for you by the Lord Jesus. Put them on with courage and confidence. They look great! “

Let’s pray,

“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us modeling lessons through the example of Your Son, Jesus. He taught us how to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Thank You for giving us the victory as we choose to find our security, significance and purpose in You. Thank You for giving us victory as we dress with courage and confidence because of the new life we live bought by the blood of Jesus. In Your Son’s name, Amen.”