Clothes Can Make A Person
Have
you ever put on certain clothes, and it totally changed the way you were
feeling? Have you ever felt utterly and unbelievably good in something you put
on? How about the opposite – have you ever put something on, and it brought
your mood down?
Romans
13:14 Instead, clothe yourself with
the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways
to indulge your evil desires.
Oh my goodness!! Can you imagine if we “put on
Christ” EVERYDAY how much better we would feel?!?! Sure, things would still “happen”
to and or around us, but the way we would deal with the circumstances would be
totally different! Like in Ephesians 6, where we are instructed to “put on” the
full armor of God – DAILY – if we added this main piece of armor, well, we can
and would be able to handle anything that comes our way!
I’m learning that following the Holy Spirits
guidance, is a really good spot to be in. However, I do still keep thinking of
things that are, well, self-indulgent. Yup, laziness comes to mind first off.
Just wanting to sit and do nothing… however, that really is NOT the best thing
for me and or my body. I believe with all of my heart, that the days I put on
the full armor of God, with detailed ‘requests/statements’ (like actual body
motions and movements as if I am REALLY putting them on) with each piece –
those are the days that I feel uplifted and energized. The days I pray through
it quickly, and just ‘put it on’ like putting on socks, well, those days seem a
little harder to navigate. So now!!! Imagine!! BEFORE putting on the full
armor, and maybe even at the end of putting it on, we prayed to be CLOTHED with
the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ….
Here is what it looks like for me. I actually
physically go through the motions of actually PUTTING ON each piece of the
armor: standing just inside my room, after getting dressed for the day, I say, “Daddy,
I come to You and ask that the Holy Spirit help me to be clothed with the presence
of Jesus Christ via Your full armor. Help me to put on and wear the helmet
of salvation (I motion putting this on my head and strapping it in
place, which looks like a full motorcycle helmet, with a dome covering all of
my head, face, neck, ears and has a front face guard as well) that will
protect my mind from bad thoughts and help me focus on what is good. Please allow
the helmet to protect my eyes and keep them looking up to You. Papa, I put on
the breastplate of righteousness (which is like a protective vest the
police wear, I actually slip my arms into the sleeve holes and pull it all
around me, sort of backwards, with the sold part in front, and the back
criss-crossing to wrap back around and double fasten in the front) that
guards my heart and emotions. May my heart be good and pleasing to You. Help my
heart be open to You and easily led by the Holy Spirit. Daddy, I put on the belt
of truth (I grab a belt from the air and wrap it around me, then chinch
it real good). Help me love the truth. Help me love to tell the
truth and to hear the truth. Lord, make me more like You. Let the truth keep me
from lies and manipulation. Father, I put on the gospel of peace shoes (bending
over, I put on very tall, protective boots, that cover all of the parts of my
legs and protect my inner thy and arteries and zip and buckle them up as I pray).
Everywhere I go Father, help me bring peace. Help me to be peaceful. Guide what
I do and where I go. Prepare me to tell others about You. Oh Daddy, I pick up
and put on the shield of faith (this is like a full body dome type of
shield. It has hand holds and a viewing window, but it surrounds me like a
bubble, not just the front of me, but my sides and back too. I visually ‘step
into’ this shield) that will help build strong faith in me. With faith, all
things are possible. Use this shield Holy Spirit to protect me from any and all
of the flaming arrows the enemy would shoot at me. Of Father, I now pick up and
hold/carry the sword of the Spirit, Your word. (I pick up a
magnificent sword and wave it around as I say these words). Put Your words
in my heart Father. Lead me and guide me so that I am good at all that I do.
Let Your words change my character. May I bless those I come in contact with. Give
me a boldness and knowledge to love and defend others. Oh Papa, lastly, I ask
that all of this armor be clothed with the full body spray paint of the presence
of Jesus Christ, Your Holy Spirit. Surrounding me and filling every nook
and cranny of this armor, sealing out the enemy and filling me with You and
Your grace, mercy and love. I pray all of this is according to Your will Papa,
in the name and by the power of Jesus Christ, amen.
This will be the BEST five minutes you spend on yourself
for the day!! Truly! I am praying that today, you will stop what you are doing,
and “go to the dressing-room” or “closet” wherever you are, and put on the full
armor of God while being covered in the amazing presence of Jesus Christ. Just
step away from what you are doing. Go take a deep breath. Then “put on” Jesus –
you’ll be glad you did! Let today be the first day of many, where you are “made”
by the clothes you wear – your Spiritual clothes/armor. Be well my friend. Be
safe today. Mostly, be blessed BIG time!
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