My daughter left for school not too long ago and in her departure, she left a few chores and errands for me to do for her.  One chore was to replace some buttons on a much beloved shirt.  This shirt was one she had purchased while at college and her roommate has one exactly like it.  I hadn’t gotten around to sewing on the buttons even though the shirt had been hanging in my room for several days after she left.   

One morning, I was looking at the shirt and thought, “I would never have picked that shirt out for her.”  It wasn’t that anything was wrong with the shirt.  In fact, that’s what made it so interesting.  It was exactly the kind of shirt I would have worn.  Long sleeves, buttoned up, and collared – was my thing.  In fact I was pretty sure if I had purchased that exact same shirt for her, she would have rejected it out of hand saying something like, “Mom, that’s a shirt you would wear, not me.”  And that’s why I would have never bought it for her in the first place!

So I found it extremely amusing that she loves wearing “her mother’s shirt.”  And what’s even better is that her roommate is wearing my shirt too!

 It made me think of the clothes God wants us to wear.  When I was younger, in my rebellion, I wouldn’t wear those clothes.  You know the clothes I mean.  The shoes of ‘peace’, the bra of ‘righteousness’, the hat of ‘salvation’, and the Spanx of ‘truth’.  I’d run out of the house half naked and I could almost hear God  saying, (very much like my husband has said to our daughter), “COME BACK HERE AND PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!!!”  

 I can’t tell you how many times I ran out the door leaving my sword (God''s Word) and my shield (Faith) at home.  You too?

 Well, I’m here to tell you, there is something to be said for being fully dressed.  Like my daughter learned to love a shirt much more my style than hers, I’ve learned the clothes God gives us never go out of style.  If you are looking for His latest fashions, you need only look in His Word.  And when you get all dressed up and look at yourself in the mirror you’ll say, “This looks just like something my Father would wear.”  And you know what?  You’ll be right!

 ¹⁰ “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

   ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

   ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”  (Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT)