I have to say I am loving this Bible study. I love the ladies coming, the material, everything. I am so glad you decided to join us here today. This week we are talking about our clothing, but not your average clothing.
Clothes are fun! As women, we love to go shopping and get new clothes. The way we are dressed can definitely impact our outlook. It can also affect our inlook, meaning how we view ourselves.
(I know inlook is not a real word...but maybe it should be one.) ; )
What we wear can determine how we act, how we walk, or talk. We just feel a little better about ourselves when we have the right clothing on and our countenance reflects it.
There is nothing worse for triggering insecurity than when we go somewhere and realize we are under dressed. Likewise, the same is true if we go to a party and everyone is in jeans while we are wearing an evening gown. The right clothing helps us feel secure.
The Bible talks a lot about our clothing, but not our material clothing. God says we are clothed in salvation, we are clothed with a robe of righteousness (Is 61: 10). He says to "put on" (as clothes) kindness, humility, patience (Col 3:12). We learned this week that He also says we are clothed in dignity and strength.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25
When you think of the term "dignified", who comes to your mind? I think about our Pastor's wife, Nora King. I also think about Presidents and first ladies. Do you think of yourself?
God says we are clothed in dignity. Doesn't that make you stand up a little taller, throw your shoulders back a little more, and make you feel better than when you have a new outfit to show off? (I know none of you show off, but just saying.)
When we KNOW we are clothed with strength and dignity, it will cause us to act and react differently to situations.
Psalms 8:5 says: God has "crowned (humans) with glory and honor."
A crown is a type of clothing. We are crowned with glory, honor, strength, dignity." When someone is "crowned", doesn't that immediately say to you that person is worthy of respect and honor? That is us!
God has covered us with His strength and His dignity. It increases our confidence when we know who we are in Christ, and who God has created us to be. It not only increases our earthly confidence, it increases our confidence with the Lord.
Hebrews 4:16 says "come boldy [with free and fearless confidence] to the throne of Grace". In 1 John 5:14-15 says:
This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
If we ask ANYTHING according to His will, He will do it. There are certain things we KNOW are God's will and that is where we can be confident it will be done. However, we have to "know that He hears us" and believe He will do it.
You can take this one to the bank--It is God's will for us to be secure. It is God's will for us to know we are worthy. It is God's will for us to understand that we are clothed with strength and dignity and to walk in that strength. If you have been struggling with insecurity, you can begin to pray to ask Him for help. Ask Him to lead you into security in Him. He will answer.
He has a brand new outfit waiting for you. So, stand up a little taller, throw those shoulders back a little more and show off your new outfit from the Lord, the clothing of strength and dignity.
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