Author: astherainandsnow

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!..

My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
    Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!” Psalm 57:5,7-11

Birdsong fills the cool air with happy staccato, chirps and trills punctuated by an occasional caw, morning praises all. The sun still lies hidden but casts its fire upward, igniting scattered clouds, shouting glory at the dawn. Awake! Awake all creation to exalt the Creator! Awake, sing, shine!

The start of each day is a fresh palette for rejoicing. Only God knows what the hours will hold, what we know is that He is faithful and loves steadfastly. Lift the mind to thoughts above where Christ is seated and calm and troubles cannot molest! Raise heart to the heavens where the sovereign Savior dwells! Tune the voice for higher praise! (Colossians 3:1-2)

Oh, how easy as earth dwellers to hum the dirge and sigh away our moments. To brood on undersides and wallow in shadows of resentment, regret, self-pity, despair. Has the drone become complaint, the heart’s hope banal, the life lens discontent? Awake, my soul! Look up and hope! Your God reigns in goodness and power! He resides in the heavens and rules the nations!

From what need I awake and sing?

“Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy dai­ly stage of du­ty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joy­ful rise,
To pay thy morn­ing sac­ri­fice.

Thy pre­cious time mis­spent, re­deem,
Each pre­sent day thy last es­teem,
Improve thy ta­lent with due care;
For the great day thy­self pre­pare.

By in­flu­ence of the Light di­vine
Let thy own light to oth­ers shine.
Reflect all Heav­en’s pro­pi­tious ways
In ar­dent love, and cheer­ful praise.

In con­ver­sa­tion be sin­cere;
Keep con­sci­ence as the noon­tide clear;
Think how all see­ing God thy ways
And all thy sec­ret thoughts sur­veys.

Wake, lift up thy­self, my heart,
And with the an­gels bear thy part,
Who all night long un­wea­ried sing
High praise to the eter­nal King.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, wher­e’er Thou art,
O nev­er then from me de­part;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one mo­ment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee re­new;
Disperse my sins as morn­ing dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thy­self my spir­it fill.

Direct, con­trol, sug­gest, this day,
All I de­sign, or do, or say,
That all my pow­ers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glo­ry may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heav’n it­self I would dis­dain,
Wert Thou not there to be en­joyed,
And I in hymns to be em­ployed.

Praise God, from whom all bless­ings flow;
Praise Him, all crea­tures here be­low;
Praise Him above, ye heav’n­ly host;
Praise Fa­ther, Son, and Ho­ly Ghost.” ~Thomas Ken (1695)

Lord, may I daily greet You in Your dawn with rejoicing, thanksgiving, determination, and praise.

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’

 “Jesus stopped and ordered the man be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” Luke 18:35-43 (Mark 10:46-52)

The blind man had other sharp senses. When he heard the passing crowd, he knew something was abuzz, and discovered it was Jesus. This was the miracle worker he’d heard about. This was the compassionate teacher, the one who did not shy away from invalids and sinners. Bartemaeus was desperate for mercy. With all his resolve, from his seat at the roadside, he cried out. He cried out to Jesus, son of David, the identity he understood. He cried out to Jesus, whose stories of undeserved mercy were now famous. This Jesus was his only hope.

Dulled by sin, we are graciously given the sense that something is wrong. Without Christ, we are beggars all, spiritually blind and helpless at true life’s roadside. Unable to know Him on our own, we know what we want, and that we desperately need. When we sense His approach and bringing us near, we can cry expectantly for mercy, which opens the way for more specific asking. Only His presence, His word, His healing touch, deliver us from our hopeless state, and free us to follow and worship and serve.

In any infirmity of circumstance or soul, have I given in to complacency in weakness, or depression due to the seemingly impossible? Have I resigned myself to hopeless begging from everything and anyone that cannot heal? Perhaps I exhaust myself exerting mustered-up efforts at making it, or depend on my self-crafted way out or betterment?

Would I instead listen for Jesus, and try to perceive His attention? Would I look beyond the palpable and present to Him who is good and does all things well? Recognizing my own helplessness and need for mercy is key to true and full healing. How willing am I to communicate my impotence and need for what He alone can do and give? (Psalm 119:68)

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.” ~Charles Wesley (1738)

From what has God specifically delivered or healed me, and how am I praising Him for the mercy applied?

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.” ~John Newton (1779)

Lord, meet my every desperation with Your sufficiency and power, to your praise.

“As it is written,

‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—

“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” “The Lord [will] come [and] bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 4:5

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind).” “The Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.” “Your Father who sees in secret.“ 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 6:4,6

God fashioned the heart and mind of man to be contained, wholly under personal control, privately held and unable to be known except by His Spirit. We might think we know others well, but no one can read another’s mind or completely understand the ways of the heart. A blessedness in knowing the omniscient God is being known by Him, and loved. All now hidden will one day be revealed for His scrutiny and reward.

So what do we do with our hidden person? When was the last time we took a breath from busyness and contemplated how we have ordered (or disordered) our inner life? How satisfied are we with the places our thoughts meander, and how we process external stimuli? Are there pet sins we fool ourselves into thinking we’ve kept hidden? Do we ignore the warnings and commands the Lord issues, saying we’ll get right or clean up later? How regularly do we invite the Lord to search our heart and identify what needs cleansing and correcting? How will we tend to the unseen to keep pure and ready for God’s just eye? (Psalm 51:1-4; 139:23-24)

And how often do we marvel at the infinite and infinitely great God? When have we sought His holy infusion of our affections, outlook, and wonder? What will we set aside, turn off, or put down to imagine and seek what God has prepared for us in love? (Psalm 63:6-7)

Lord, I welcome Your refining Spirit to deal with anything hidden that dishonors You, to your righteous specifications, and Your inspiring Spirit to lift my adoration and hope, for Your honor and glory.

“Job answered and said:

“‘Today also my complaint is bitter;
    my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
    that I might come even to his seat!
I would lay my case before him…
I would know what he would answer me…
he would pay attention to me…

“’Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
    and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
    he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
    I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
    What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
    and many such things are in his mind.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
    when I consider, I am in dread of him.
God has made my heart faint;
    the Almighty has terrified me;
yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
    nor because thick darkness covers my face.'” Job 23:1-6,8-17

“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

Job’s emotional and physical turmoil, his agonies and loneliness, were held steady by absolute confidence in his Lord. Bitter complaint and groaning met the One who heard and answered. He knew God knew and was redeeming his hardship, that one day his testing would be completed. In darkness and silence and pain and dread, his unchanging Sovereign was working and would fulfill His plans.

There are unavoidable todays that grate and hurt and cause confusion. The heavy hand of sorrow, the fainting heart, loom and choke. There are seasons of a silent heaven, no answers or relief, of wondering whether God sees or cares. We say we trust His working, yet see no end in sight and lose heart. When we get weary, longing for resolution, our souls might cry for the Lord to finish His appointment for us. Indeed, we can trust that always, in His perfect way and time, He will. (Deuteronomy 28:23; Psalm 13:1-2; Habakkuk 1:2; Revelation 6:10)

Is this our hope? Can we take joy in the dawning day, no matter how frigid or silent? Is God our champion, and His sovereign and good arrangement of all things a fortress against life’s storm? We see now in a mirror dimly, but one day we shall see God’s completed redemption. Do we find substantial balm in this truth? Would we ask God for patience in expectation? Our confidence that this life is one large appointment preparing us for heaven can keep us steady no matter our circumstances. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12)

Lord, keep me faithful in my doing and testing, trusting Your ways, means, and glorious ends.

“Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’  But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'”

“Someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ He said,.. ‘Many will seek to enter and will not be able.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I do not know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!”’” Luke 10:38-43; 13:23-27

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me.’” Matthew 7:21-23

The disciples grew more and more acquainted with Jesus as they spent time with Him, moving over their short years together from curiosity through confusion to, after His death, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost, unfettered commitment. Knowing about became an intimate knowing of Him by the work of Spirit and faith. God came in flesh so His children could know Him personally.

Trouble with spiritual intimacy stems from misunderstanding and barriers. Much of our earthly lives revolves around information, familiarity, and interactions that never move below the surface. We accrue knowledge and expertise without fully engaging and being transparent with others. We grow accustomed to siloed thinking, planning, and doing, eschewing closeness that would require accountability, or appropriating another’s preferences. It’s simpler and safer to live for ourselves and skirt vulnerability and full investment.

But the world’s thinking is the enemy’s ruse. We’re not called to conform to individualism and selfishness, but to be transformed to the self-sacrificial nature of Christ. (John 13:34; 15:13; Romans 12:1 –2)

Have we grown proud in shallow acquaintances, a plethora of topics and people we know about? What keeps us from genuine intimacy? What shame do we coddle, what secrets do we guard, that prevent sincerity and closeness with the Lord Jesus? To what frenetic activity are we addicted that prevents unhurried contemplation of the holy One? Where have we settled for cursory activity, soundbites, and attendance with no heart investment or application? What will we do about it? When we cry Lord, Lord, are we only in need, or in love? To really know God is to choose the good portion of the time He allots.

Lord, increase my passion to know You. Please help me every day to keep You before my face, first in my heart and mind, so You are exalted and glorified. (Exodus 33:13,18)

“One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ And he answered, ‘Say it, Teacher.’

“’A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?’  Simon answered, ‘The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.’ And he said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.’ And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Luke 7:36-48

From the eyes of the legalistic Pharisee, this woman was of the sinning sort: unclean, flawed, unworthy to touch Jesus. Simon critically measured people by the standard of his man-made rules. But from Jesus’s perspective, she was humble, bold, selfless, and generous, touched by His love and mercy. The woman’s actions displayed an eagerness to be near and honor Jesus no matter the cost or criticism. Man’s eyes, informed by his view of the world, see one sort, when divine eyes see the heart.

What sort am I? Do I measure behavior by persnickety standards set by preference and prejudice? Am I the sort who castigates another’s appearance with an air of superiority, or behavior with malice, while making excuses for personal language and choices that dishonor my Lord and others? Am I the sort who condemns others sins while justifying my own?

Jesus’s love and forgiveness shaped a sinful woman into a grateful, lavish worshiper. His insight and patience with Simon turned his wrong judgment into a right one by presenting a parable. What callousness or arrogance do I need the Lord to change in me? Will I ask Him to replace shame with thankfulness, a critical spirit with mercy and kindness that reflect His character?

Lord, make me the sort of person who sees with pure and grateful eyes, and spreads love and light to others, to Your honor.

“The taskmasters and foremen went out and said to the people, ‘Thus says Pharaoh, “I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.”’  So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, ‘Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.’ And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, ‘Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?..’

“Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.’

“But the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.’

“‘I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.  I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,.. in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.  Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,.. deliver you from slavery, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” Exodus 5:10-14,22-23; 6:1-7

The Lord had made Moses a promise, then orchestrated events that seem to put its fulfillment in jeopardy. Every but portrays the mental tension with which Moses wrestled. What he deemed an impossible roadblock, the Lord used to prepare the most glorious fulfillment. In orchestrating their miraculous deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea, God would reveal Himself to Israel as their covenant LORD.

So often in our limited vision, we think God is not at work, that He does not answer our pleas or come through on His promises. We give a nod to His Word, but don’t see it fulfilled because we’ve set our own parameters or wrong rigid expectations. Our everyday frenetic tempo does not allow for contemplation of God’s broader unseen activity. But when we claim the Word and look to the One who gave it, we begin to see how He works in ways we had not imagined to bring about greater and higher ends.

Are there current situations where we doubt earlier decisions that led us here, and that God is present at all? Where are we at an impasse in a relationship, or ministry effort, and any way forward seems impossible? What has God promised, and when will we claim that spoken truth? How has God revealed Himself anew when we have chosen the way of faith?

Lord, in every conundrum, help me see You, at work, and glorified.

“Moses answered, ‘Behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, they will say, “The Lord did not appear to you.”’ The Lord said.., ‘Throw [your staff] on the ground.’ So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said, ‘Put out your hand and catch it by the tail’—so he caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— ‘that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers.., has appeared to you…’

“But Moses said, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’  The Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’ But he said, ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.'” Exodus 4:1-5,10-13

From birth through a providentially royal upbringing and education, God had brought him to this time and place. When Moses first saw the burning bush, He’d spoken to him by name. On holy ground, He’d issued a high call, pledging His self-existent presence, and confirming it by miraculous signs. Yet Moses wavered. He still had doubts. He was not eloquent. He was afraid. Please send someone else. Had Moses ignored all of God’s goodness and protection? He relinquished the role of spokesperson, but God did not relinquish him. Over years of patient training and ongoing communion, the Lord developed His remarkable leader and friend. (Exodus 2:1-14; 15:1-3; 33:13-19; 34:29; Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Hebrews 11:23-27)

It’s easy to criticize another who fails to take the Lord at His word. What were they thinking? We profess to believe Him unreservedly, yet, when faith is tested, we too can waver and doubt. Would God really come through? Must I do that? Does He understand my situation? Surely He wouldn’t ask me to go that far?!

What are we thinking? Facing a new path or call issued, do we focus on ourselves and our inadequacies? Do we fixate on full schedules and limited resources? Or do we remember God’s steady faithfulness and love over years, the many ways He has proved Himself and His word? Do we think about who God is and what He might be doing? How seriously do we take God at His word?

Where have we missed opportunities to show forth God’s might and glory because we think more about ourselves, or rebuffing his commands, or arguing about our skill or lack thereof? When He presents a new responsibility or role, would we trust His ability and anticipate wonders He’ll perform? The more we yield to the Lord and seize what He offers, and the further we proceed in faith, the greater will He be magnified in our daily lives.

“‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
and to take him at his word; 
just to rest upon his promise, 
and to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ 
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more!” ~Louisa Stead (1882)

Father, help me think rightly, and so obey in faith and for Your glory.

“I am a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock…
Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind…
Wisdom is with the aged,
    and understanding in length of days.

“With God are wisdom and might;
    he has counsel and understanding.
If he tears down, none can rebuild;
    if he shuts a man in, none can open.
If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
With him are strength and sound wisdom…
He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.”

“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
    my ear has heard and understood it…
But I would speak to the Almighty,
    and I desire to argue my case with God…
Hear now my argument
    and listen to the pleadings of my lips…
Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
    yet I will argue my ways to his face…
Keep listening to my words…
I have prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be in the right.
Who is there who will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.
Only grant me two things,
    then I will not hide myself from your face:
withdraw your hand far from me,
    and let not dread of you terrify me.
Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    Make me know my transgression and my sin.
Why do you hide your face
    and count me as your enemy?”

“I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
    in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
    my eyes shall behold.” Job 12:4,9-10,12-16a,22; 13:1,3,6,15,17-24; 19:25-27

Job was suffering, physically and emotionally, and his ‘friends’ accused him of unrepentant sin as the cause. Destitute and loathing his life, Job clings to his Lord as the only hope available. He believed in his Sovereign’s wisdom and might and perfect knowledge, and relied on His lovingkindness in order to argue his cause and angst. His hope in God’s sure goodness was foundational to their honest communion, however agonizing. Job grasped enough of God’s ‘otherness’ to put his absolute trust in Him. (Job 8:1-6; 11:1-6)

Man has trouble with preconceptions of how God works, or opinions about how He should. We have a stilted view of life and think we deserve what makes us comfortable and happy. The Lord, though, is in the business of making us holy. He’s concerned with how we respond to His high and deep ways with man, and teaching how He’s glorified in the midst, and often out of hardship. Our concerns are fleshy and temporal, His are unseen and eternal.

How honest are we with God? Do we believe enough in His goodness and purposes to argue and express complaint with hope? Where will we look to Him and trust His answers?

Lord, keep me unshaken in hope and honest in complaint, trusting You above all earthly struggles to show Yourself gloriously sovereign and good.

“Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands.” Psalm 149:1-6

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:8-10,12-14

The psalmist describes the beautiful sounds and sight of the people God adorns with salvation, his song a lovely piece of joy, movement, and praise. Paul describes the same new self in more practical terms, logically enumerating what the humble and holy must put off and put on. The Lord on high cares how His people present themselves to reflect His graces and excellencies here on earth.

In choosing our daily dress, heavenly adornment is the way to go. Since the Lord has clothed me with righteousness and salvation, my accessories are praise, joy, and song. Beginning the day with psalms sets us thinking aright, and fits us with garb worthy of our Maker, Savior, and King.

There are certain behaviors unbecoming of our Sovereign and His children we must not just softly shrug, but shake off definitively, if we are to be adorned with glory. By God’s Spirit we can put away, forever, unchecked emotions that torque attitudes and trip up our tongues in unfiltered chatter. We must say no to practices that offend God’s holiness, ruin our witness, and unsettle our resolve and desire and keep us enslaved to sin. Instead of conforming to the world, daily renewing our minds in God’s word reorders our thoughts, which translates to refurbished vocabulary and habits. (Romans 12:1-2)

Identifying what dishonors the Lord and is a blatant disobedience to His word is key to dressing rightly. What godless emotions, reactions, and practices are necessary to strip out of my life? Am I willing to do so? In order to remain faithful as God’s chosen one, what will I put on instead? Where and with whom can I intentionally exercise compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience? To whom has God asked me to extend forgiveness and love? A daily ritual of praising God, renewing my mind in His word, and clothing myself with His character refines the image of the Creator.

Father, may those I encounter see my adornment is You, and all that is good and points to You.