So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message)
Keeping up with the latest trends and fashions cannot only be tiring but unfulfilling as well. Instead, we are called to dress in the wardrobe God has uniquely designed for us. First we'll start with compassion. Having a heart that breaks for others just as Jesus' heart does. That feeling you get deep down in the pit of your stomach that doesn't go away until you do something to help solve the solution. Next is kindness. Showing kindness simply means being friendly. Kindness is going about your day sharing the beautiful smile on your face that God has given you. Humility. Putting others before yourself just as Jesus did. Humbly serving others despite whether you are rewarded or complimented for your good deeds. As a woman, this next one may be tough for some. Quiet strength. It has been said that an average woman speaks approximately 20,000 words a day. Whether you're below, average, or above average, God's wardrobe calls for a quiet strength. This is not to say you must be silent, but rather listen twice as much as you talk. When you talk, talk because you have something to say. Encourage others, giving advice in love when the door is opened to speak. Discipline is an act of training, a motivation deep within, striving towards a goal. Ceasing to quit until that goal is reached. This could mean being discipline in your prayer life, refusing to give up praying until God has accomplished His purpose. Be even- tempered and not easily irritated. Content with second place. There are much bigger things in life than having to be first all of the time. God will not overlook you. We are also told to be quick to forgive others just as quickly and willing as Jesus was to take up the cross and die for our sins. Last but not least, love. A word often taken all too lightly. To love someone is to care for them just as Christ cares for us. He is our ultimate model of love. No matter what their past looks like, their race, their size, or who they hang out with, we are called to wear love. Never leave without it. Even the most beautiful dress in the world does not compare to God's wardrobe. A mysterious beauty is added when a worldly wardrobe is set aside and replaced with God's wardrobe. People will begin to see that radiant shimmer of hope in your life, Jesus Christ, and be left standing captivated in awe of His beauty.
