Undressing for the King
11/07/2019 15:58
When I was young, I was blessed with a shock of wavy black hair which was easy to manage. But then … I grew up, got old, even older … and keeping my hair well-groomed was like growing exotic colourful blooms in the height of a cold dark winter. The masses of hair I once boasted of dwindled. Thick hair turned thin. I was told that blow-drying hair damages it, so I had to stop the practice. I discovered though, that if I had a shower last thing at night, my straggly mop of thinning hair would retain some of its bounce and would be fairly presentable in the daytime.
So for many years I’ve been enjoying a bedtime shower—it kept my hair in some kind of shape. Until recently that is. Lately, I’d be aghast each morning to find my hair sticking out in all directions, like a crow’s nest pulled apart in a storm. It was so embarrassing when I had to go out and meet people! No amount of brushing or combing helped—not even when I smoothed those disobedient tresses with oil and water. Drastic measures were needed!
So … I thought up a new plan. I continue to have my bedtime showers, but do NOT wet my hair at night anymore. Instead, I have an additional morning shower three times a week, blow-drying my hair afterwards. At long last, my hair looks combed—at least most of the time. Whew. Thank you God. My beloved needs the use of the shower in the mornings, so I wait to wave him off to work before I get under the shower. Which means I need to dress (in several layers because it’s winter), perform my morning chores, then undress later (out of all those layers), have my shower and dress again (in all those layers) once more.
What a lot of dressing and undressing!
But …I’ve found a way to make it all worth my while. God’s been asking me to make worship a way of life. What better use of my morning routine then, than to incorporate worship as a big part of it? When I undress before my shower, God calls me to strip my heart from all the stained apparel it has on—pride, anxiety, worry, self-will and the like. He asks that I stand naked before Him in my spirit, empty of all pretense. And then, as I worship Him in the shower, singing praise songs at the top of my voice, His blood washes my soul and spirit and cleanses me from deep within.
What a great start to my day!
When I put on layers of clothing afterwards, God asks me to put on Christ. He hands me my new nature—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control. He also reminds me to put on the armour of Christ so I can fight the powers of darkness—His breastplate of righteousness, shoes that proclaim the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, a belt of truth around my waist, the shield of faith held firm to keep away darts of the enemy. And in my hands I brandish the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
When did you last undress for the King? What did that feel like? And what did you put on to replace it? Let’s pursue our faithful loving God, laying aside all that hinders our walk with Him. Let’s make worship, praise and thanksgiving a way of life which resounds to His glory!
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12,14
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to
the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!
Amen. Jude 1:24
