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Respite For the Weary
About a month ago, after one of the torrential rainstorms that the Nashville-area has been experiencing, I woke up to a steady stream of water coming from the ceiling of our walk-in closet. Mac and I quickly took action with bowls and towels; and then, I immediately started removing all my clothes from the area. For about 2 weeks my "closet" was piled high in our bathtub.
First of all, I didn't realize how much STUFF I owned! And then secondly, I decided it was purging-time. One by one, I lifted up shirts, pants, dresses, and shoes and put them in their appropriate stacks, either "give-away" or "keep." Soon afterwards, the give-away clothes were out the door, no longer in my possession.
It felt GREAT to clean out my closet!
Do you know that as Christ-followers, we too have this same choice of "purging the old stuff?" There are certain garments that have no business hanging on our racks. Here's one for example: the "cloak of shame." Sometimes I find myself wrapping this cape around my shoulders...again. When I make a mistake, whether it's big and embarrassing, or small and personal, I find myself bound up in negative self-talk. One morning when I was battling this self deprecating mentality, God used my very real closet clean-out experience to say kindly to me, "Chris, remember, you no longer own that garment." And IT'S TRUE! Jesus not only wore my shame on the cross, he despised it and buried it! All shame, past, present, and future is gone.
What about you? Do you have unnecessary garments that need to be thrown out of your closet?
A guilt jacket? A pride hat? A fear-full wrap? Faith-less shoes? If so, it's time to do some truth-filled purging.
While doing so, take courage in the wardrobe that we do have the privilege of wearing because of Christ:
Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future. Pr 31:25
You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. Psalm 30:11
For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness... Isaiah 61:10.
Our wardrobe is complete in Christ! And it is beautiful.
With my "cloak of shame" no longer hanging on the rack (and other clothing like it), I can say again,
"It feels GREAT to clean out my closet!"
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Dear Lord,
Please help us to stay dependent on you by your Spirit and through your word. Truly, everything else, if done in and of our own strength, amounts to nothing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.