“The crisp fall air and light breeze have brought lower temperatures to the area,” stated the weatherman. “Get out your coats! It’s a chilly 50 degrees outside!”
Hearing the weather report, Jimmy pulled out his old coat from the closet. Holding his new coat in her arms his mother spoke, “Don’t you want to wear your new coat today?” “Na,” said Jimmy. “This one is still good.” “You like this old coat, don’t you Jimmy?” she asked with a knowing smile.
“Yeah! I did some cool stuff in this coat!” announced Jimmy. “I can see that,” she replied. “The elbows are worn; the zipper is broken. Why look, the seam is ripped and there is even a hole! Laughing she shook her head, “Yes, you certainly have had some good times in this coat.” Jimmy beamed remembering all of the good times.
Gently she broached the subject of the new coat. “You know Jimmy, it’s getting colder outside. This old coat has been great, but I’m not so sure that it will keep you warm anymore. You have this new coat that I know will protect you from the elements. The zipper works. There are no holes. There is even a hood and it’s waterproof!”
Jimmy furred his brow in thought. “Well,” he said, “maybe I can wear it.” Jimmy’s mom helped him to change into his new coat. As he zipped it up, her arms reached around him enveloping him in a loving hug. “Thanks mom. I like it,” Jimmy said with a smile.
Jimmy’s mom isn’t the only one who has a new coat for him. God has a new coat for each of us too.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:30
What kind of coat does God have for us?
A COAT OF GLADNESS!
With all the negative things happening in the world right now, we could all probably use an extra dose of gladness!
So, how do we get it?
PULL UP YOUR HOOD!
Have you ever noticed how we seem to wear our emotions?
They hang on us like a coat. Wearing emotions like fear, anxiety, stress, rejection and guilt are like wearing a coat with a broken zipper and no hood. The longer we wear it, the more we are exposed to the negative effects of the cold. The cold seeps in causing despair and depression as we search for warmth.
Where do all of our negative emotions start? In our heads!
Like the hood protects our heads from the cold elements, refocusing our minds on God protects us from the negative elements bombarding our minds.
So, don’t forget to pull up your hood! It may not change our situations, but it will certainly bring us peace.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
What next?
SHED THAT OLD COAT!
As we read, meditate and remember God’s Words, they will envelope us in the warmth of His love.
God’s word helps us to shed the old coat full of fear, doubt and negative emotions. Then in faith, we can snuggle into the warmth of the new coat which will bring a smile to our face and joy to our hearts.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
GET A WORKING ZIPPER!
We can have a hood and a coat, but it’s still cold if we don’t have a working zipper!
Following God’s commandments is like zipping up our coat. It protects us from the negative elements by keeping us encased in the warmth of His love. In spite of the elements, we will have joy.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:10-11
MAKE YOUR COAT WATER PROOF!
When we spray a water proofing solution on our coat, it makes all the elements impenetrable. Praise given in faith is like water proofing our coats. When we wear the coat, or garment of praise, it makes the cold, negative elements impenetrable too.
Jesus came to take the negative elements away and give us the garment of praise.
To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; Isaiah 61:3a
As we walk in God’s ways, dwell on God’s Word and His promises, we fortify our coat like armor.
Wearing our coats in faith brings us warmth, comfort and protection
from the negative elements like fear, anxiety and stress.
A new coat is God’s gift of love to us. We don’t have to go to the store to buy it, we don’t have to go online to order it, we just have to ask God to give it to us. It’s free and available 24/7!
BUT IT ONLY WORKS IF WE WEAR THE NEW COAT!
Carrying the coat around, draping it over our shoulders or leaving it in the closet will not repel the elements. In faith, we need to put it on, pull up the hood and zip it up! Then we can say:
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. Psalm 30:11
REFLECTION
Does your coat have a broken zipper? If so, would you try on the new coat God has for you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Psalm 30:11 and say it aloud, please make it true in my life. Help me to shed the old coat and take the steps to clothe myself with Your new coat, zipped up with the hood on! In Jesus name, amen.
WEARING A COAT OF FAITH BRINGS JOY
If you enjoyed or benefited from my blog, please subscribe below for free and like my Facebook page.
Thanks so much!
May your day be filled with love and laughter!
For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fall photo, Mott Rodeheaver, unsplash
Glad girl, Lori Heron, pixabay
Hooded girl, S.B. Vonlanthen, unsplash
