Who am I wearing?

I want to share another devotional from my friend, Jennifer.  I love that she is writing a devotional each week for our Ladies Group!  She has given me permission to share some on my blog.  May each one that reads this have "a heart to hear"

A Heart to Hear

Who are you wearing? This is the question all the actresses are asked on the red carpet. Everyone wants to know who deserves the credit or, in some cases, the blame. Who are you wearing? That question has been echoing in my thoughts lately. As I waited before the Lord, He held up His mirror and let me see what and who I was wearing. The first thing I saw was a dense, black cloak sitting heavily on my shoulders and making it hard to do anything with my hands - it is a spirit of heaviness and hopelessness. Then I noticed a thick, choking scarf full of knots wrapped around my neck - it is fear trying to choke the life out of me. On my feet were high heeled shoes that make me wobble and pinch my toes - I'm trying to live up to what I imagine is expected of me. On my head was a band of guilt squeezing my brain and never letting me relax. Who do you suppose is the designer of this ensemble? Of course, it is custom made by the enemy, who loves nothing better than to torture and torment. The question I am asking myself now is why would I choose to dress this way? I know Isaiah 61:3 declares that God's design for me is a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. I know that perfect love casts out fear. God has promised that he will instruct me and teach me His ways. I know that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all my sin. I know that my heavenly Father will complete the work He has started in me. I know that nothing can separate me from His love. So why am I standing here looking like a candidate for "What Not to Wear - Holy Spirit Edition"? It is simply because I haven't been actively choosing to live by the Spirit. I have defaulted to my original programming of living according to the desires of my flesh: choosing extra sleep over time spent seeking the Lord before the day begins, attempting to run on the empty tank of my own sufficiency. In Romans 13:14, the apostle Paul tells us to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." The flesh desires above all else to find a way to function apart from relationship with God, but the end result is always hopelessness and despair. Just as standing on three inch stilettos doesn't really make me taller, all my human attempts to be good are doomed to fail. I have to choose each day, each hour, sometimes each moment to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To put on Jesus is to admit that my only hope for a life worth living is found in Him. Galatians 5:1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." To be passive is to be a prisoner. Let's choose freedom in Christ, even when it is a battle to believe and walk in the truth.

Lord, please give us a heart to hear you.

~~Jennifer Davis