I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:12-13
I love living in the Bay Area because we have, in my opinion, some of the best weather in the world. It doesn’t get too cold in the winter, and it doesn’t get too hot in the summer. Yet, we do have four distinct seasons, and each season has its benefit.
When the Summer comes, I can pull out my linen pants and shirts again. I love the light and airy feel of them; so comfortable. When I’m wearing them I feel relaxed, laid back, like there’s not a care in the world.
When Fall rolls around, I get to pull out my sweaters and light-weight coats. I especially love the light-weight coats during this season, because it’s the only time of year that I have the opportunity to wear them. They’re not warm enough for the cold of winter, and too warm for the breezes of Spring. But they’re perfect for the Fall!
My heavy coats come out when the Winter rolls around. I especially enjoy wearing my heavy trench coat on a rainy Sunday morning. It just feels right!
No season is a bad season; just an opportunity to wear a different set of garments. That’s the perspective that we need to have about life in general! We should not fear the dark seasons of our lives because they bring us the opportunity to turn on the lights. And we should not fear the cold seasons of our lives because they bring us the opportunity to light a fire and to put on a new set of garments.
This is what Paul meant when he said that he could do all things through the strength of Christ. I’ve got a set of garments for any set of weather conditions!
But we’ve got to learn to clothe ourselves for the season. If you go out in shorts and a tank top in the midst of heavy rain, you’re going to catch a cold! Believers get spiritually sick not because they do not possess the garments they needed to weather a particular season, but because they fail to clothe themselves with those garments.
Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. – Isaiah 52:1
This morning as you rise up from your bed of sleep, clothe yourself with the strength of the Lord in a manner that is appropriate to whatever season you may find yourself in today. And once you’re clothed, don’t fear the elements. Just relish the fact that when you’re wearing your garments of splendor, you look good in any weather!
Be encouraged!
“If you go out in shorts and a tank top in the midst of heavy rain, you’re going to catch a cold! Believers get spiritually sick not because they do not possess the garments they needed to weather a particular season, but because they fail to clothe themselves with those garments.” I love this analogy.
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As I was doing my morning devotion today, I got so emotional reading John 21: 1-12. Jesus makes himself known to Simon Peter while Peter is fishing. Jesus asks Peter and some of the other disciples if they have caught any fish and they answer no. Jesus tells them to put the net down on the right side, and immediately the net was filled with fish. Jesus says to Peter, “It is the Lord!” and in that very moment Jesus makes himself known to Peter. Before that point the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus who was directing them. The disciples jump out of the boat feeling a gust of hope flow through their hearts, for Jesus is alive! When the disciples reach the shore they see that Jesus has placed some fish over the fire with some bread, and it feels just like when Jesus was with them before. Jesus made himself known to the disciples, as he knew that they were discouraged and hopeless, to clothe them with the things he has prepared for them. He stripped them of discouragement, hopelessness, and the feeling of loss, and clothing them with His glory, newness, hope, restoration and rest.
It’s so easy to feel worn out, and especially if you believed that Jesus was dead, it’s definitely easy to feel discouraged and hopeless. Jesus called on them to clothe them with rest, rest from burdens, worries, fear (especially since people knew they were Jesus’ disciples), and hopelessness. I felt like I should share this on this devotion because I feel like the clothing I desperately needed to be clothed with is rest, rest that only Jesus can give.
This would have been a great morning devotion to share with everyone! Why haven’t you written one and sent it to me yet? This is good stuff! 🙂