How to Style Yourself

Some things never go out of season.

Every morning, I start my day with God.

I love what it feels like to begin the day with a reminder. Sometimes it’s a prayer. Sometimes it’s Scripture. Sometimes it’s a single verse that stays with me long after I’ve finished reading.

This morning, it was one of those verses.

I found myself thinking about it throughout the day, and I figured maybe someone else might need the reminder too.

One thing you’ll probably notice as we spend time together is that we’ll talk a lot about identity, becoming, and intentional living. They’re the kinds of things we’re expected to know, yet no one really teaches us. And somehow, they end up shaping so much of the life we live.

This morning’s Scripture made me smile because it reminded me of something I genuinely enjoy.

Fashion.

Fashion tells a story.

It leaves an impression before we ever say a word.

So when I read these words, they caught my attention in a different way.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” — Colossians 3:12

I love that God chose the word clothe.

Because if we truly clothed ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, we would certainly leave an impression.

Those qualities are beautiful together.

The challenge is…

Life doesn’t always provide ideal conditions.

Disappointment comes.

Stress finds us.

People misunderstand us.

Unexpected moments have a way of changing the course of our day.

And yet, the invitation remains the same.

Clothe yourselves.

That made me pause.

Why those qualities?

Why would God ask His people to put those on regardless of what they’re walking through?

I don’t know every answer.

But I do wonder if it’s because they’re not meant to be costumes.

They’re not something God simply asked us to wear.

They’re something He placed within us.

That changes the way I read the verse.

Because if compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience only showed up when life was easy, they wouldn’t really be part of our identity.

They would simply be accessories.

It also made me think about how much time we spend deciding what to wear each day.

We consider the occasion.

The weather.

The impression we’d like to leave.

But how often do we pause and ask ourselves,

“What am I clothing myself with today?”

Not for appearances.

Not because someone else is watching.

But because it reflects the person God is shaping me to become.

So if you’ve been asking yourself,

“Who am I?”

Perhaps another question is worth considering.

What has God already placed within me that life has convinced me to stop wearing?

Because who you are matters.

More than your accomplishments.

More than your possessions.

More than the titles attached to your name.

Who you are matters.

Maybe that’s why this verse reminds us to get dressed this way every single day.

Not because life will always be kind.

But because our identity was never meant to depend on our circumstances.

❤️

Before You Go….

Before you head out, there’s one more thought I’d love to leave with you.

I’ve learned that it’s difficult to fully understand who we are while trying to do life apart from the One who created us.

I think we all lose sight of ourselves from time to time.

I know I have.

But I’ve also discovered that the safest place to remember who I am is in the presence of God.

If you’ve never talked with Him before—or maybe it’s simply been a while—you don’t need perfect words.

You can simply pray:

God,

Thank You for loving me.

Thank You for being patient with me.

Thank You for never giving up on me.

I accept Your authority and Your leadership in my life.

Help me understand who You’ve created me to be.

Help me remember what You’ve placed within me.

Teach me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, no matter the season.

In Jesus name,

Amen.