MOOD SHIFTERS

Colossians 3:14 NLT Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

What we wear can sometimes affects our mood and we wouldn’t wear scruffy gardening clothes to a wedding or we’d feel out of place! Very often when we wear something we like and we know it suits us, we may feel more confident, but maybe it doesn’t bother you one way or the other!😊

What we wear spiritually can majorly affect our mood as well. Are we wearing the right clothes, have we put our armour on?

Do you ever wake up on a Monday a bit grumpy or lazy and don’t feel like getting dressed, when you just feel like doing not very much?😊 Scripture says to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness so we can rise above the wearies, the moany groanies, the ‘can’t be bothereds’, and the ‘don’t want to’s!

Praise shifts the atmosphere around us and lifts our spirits. It lifts our eyes off ourselves and back on to our loving God, onto the thought that things can change and be turned round for good.

Colossians 3:12 NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It doesn’t say God will, it says you must! Did we put the right clothes on when we woke up today, or did we not even think about it?

If we put our armour on and if we put on the Tshirt of thankfulness, the jacket of kindness and patience, humility and gentleness as well, then when somebody or something really ruffles our feathers at some point, we can remember we’re not wearing the coat of criticism or the scarf of complaining or offence, we’re wearing the jumper of patience, the shoes of peace, the bulletproof vest of righteousness and the overalls of love, which stop us retaliating.😊

So if your mood needs a bit of a shift, put your thankful Tshirt on! And as you go into this new week, or next time you wake up, remember to put all the right clothes on, and with God’s help you’ll be ready for anything.😊 Amen.

Photo by Lucas Lenzi on Unsplash

GOD IS OUR LAMP, OUR SHIELD, OUR FORTRESS

2 Samuel 22:29-33 AMPC

For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; 

the Lord lightens my darkness.

For by You I run through a troop; 

by my God I leap over a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect; 

the word of the Lord is tried. 

He is a Shield to all those who trust 

and take refuge in Him.

For who is God but the Lord? 

And who is a Rock except our God?

God is my strong Fortress; 

He guides the blameless in His way 

and sets him free.

These verses are part of David’s song when the Lord delivered him from his enemies and as I read about the Lord being our Lamp I remembered one of our lamps broke the other day and we had to buy another one. We all need light!

There is only one source of true light for us and it’s not the media, or self help gurus, but the Living God, Jesus Himself, the Light of the world and His Word. I love the fact David makes God personal - he says God is my lamp, my light. He’s yours too!😊

Now we may not feel like leaping over walls or overcoming armies but nevertheless, whatever we have to face or overcome God says we can do it each day with His help and His strength, because He gives us His ability, His courage to overcome the obstacles we have to deal with. With God we can!

v. 31 says God is our Shield and Psalm 5:12 reminds us that God surrounds us with His love and favour like a shield. When we go out into our day we need to know that, and see it in our mind’s eye so we don’t feel vulnerable, but protected and invincible! 

We need to remember to say God is my strong fortress, it’s personal, and we’re in Him and He is in us wherever we go. It’s only when we forget it, or don’t believe it, that fear has a way in and makes us wobbly! But before we go out the door remember we are assigned powerful angels to protect us on all sides and the enemy is beneath our feet, so fear won’t gain a foothold.😊

And don’t forget we are blameless in God’s sight because Jesus has given us His righteousness so God guides us on our way and whatever has tied us down, or bound us up He sets us free from it.

We are so blessed so let’s release our praise for our awe inspiring God with all our hearts today.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Ingmar on Unsplash