I had three piles of laundry sitting on my dining room table for over a month, but this week I decided to stop crying and  tackle the clothes pile. I’ve spent weeks mourning the current mess I am experiencing. When things don’t go my way, I want to scream and end up wasting a whole lot of time complaining about circumstances completely out of my control.  

Here’s what I’ve learned about walking through a hard season: I can either let despair cover me like a blanket, or I can strip away all the filthy clothes the enemy of my soul tries to put on me and arm myself with faith and love.  

My wise friend Judi reminded me that a garment of praise is a powerful weapon. I’ve been fighting hard to remember that truth and worship instead of worry.  

How about you, friend?  Do you feel like you are wearing a straight-jacket of fear and anxiety? Maybe it’s time for both of us to do the laundry and stop wearing the wrong clothes.  

Last week, I read a devotional that reminded me we are “well equipped to face whatever people and situations” God brings our way. “Clothing” our mind in Christ is “best preparation for each day.”  

My curiosity was peeked, and I ended up digging into my concordance to see exactly what that meant. What I discovered encouraged me deeply:

God has already beautifully clothed you and I. 

God clothes you in completely a new wardrobe:

You are clothed in salvation.

 God has forever removed your filthy garment of condemnation and guilt. Christ has placed on you His robe of righteousness and removed all your sin.  

• “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10, NIV)

You are clothed in praise.

 Gone are the grave clothes of despair, anxiety, and defeat. Your mantle is jubilant praise. 

• “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair…” (Isaiah 61:1-3)
  

You are clothed in strength and dignity.

Wearing pride and self sufficiency is totally out of style in your wardrobe. You wear grace, honor, and fortitude with a smile.  

• “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Proverbs 31:25

You are clothed in joy.

God has a pair of dancing shoes with your name on them. Remember the season for mourning clothes is always temporary.  

• “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11)

You are clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Superman’s cape is nothing compared to the power God has gifted you. The Spirit of the resurrected Christ lives in you.  

• “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
  

Need more help remembering God clothes you with joy? I’ve created a one-page printable with 8 Joy Fighter Verses to help you get started. Download a copy and read through these sweet promises every morning to remind you the joy of the Lord is your strength. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

Friends, we are clothed in Christ. Despair, fear, anxiety will not hamper  our walk as we “put on” our armor. (Ephesians 6:11, Romans 1312, 14; I Thessalonians 5:18)  With the faith and love of our Savior as our protective garment, the enemy of our soul has to flee. We will stand empowered against every scheme of the enemy because we wear the hope of salvation. 

One glorious day soon, Jesus is going to return and clothe us with immortality. (I Corinthians 15:50-54) Our frail bodies will be transformed into imperishable, and death will be swallowed up in victory. We will dance forever in glory.  

Now, that is a reason to put our dancing shoes on and joyfully celebrate with all our might.

Celebrate because God clothes you with joy.

Let’s Chat: What is one step you will take this week to “put on” the joy of Christ?

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