“In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon people, he may speak in their ears…” (Job 33:15). I love those words and find myself hopeful and at attention as I drift to sleep. Just over a week ago I was waking up out of a dream, and in it I stood in front of a large closet as clothes passed by me. I carefully calculated what things needed to be picked out and packed up. I was sorting, assessing, and rearranging the clothes on the hangers and thought at first I so hoped that the Lord was going to bestow upon me a new wardrobe for the spring, I knew that couldn’t be the case because even though I really liked the clothes on some of the hangers, I had a knowing in the dream that there was no longer a place for them in the closet. The closet I happened to be picking through was not my personal closet but a “corporate closet” and therefore I believe God has layers of insight to reveal to those who would choose to ask Him.
In Colossians chapter three, the writer Paul exhorts us to “clothe ourselves” in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. To put on love above all.” I imagine that since lockdown these things have not been the most comfortable of things to wear, however I think it’s interesting that Paul tells us to PUT THESE THINGS ON. That means that even if it doesn’t “feel” comfortable, it is still something we can CHOOSE to walk around in. Earlier in the chapter he also addresses the things we need to “take off” and put to death (do away with for good) because some things, comfortable or not, are no longer fitting for us in this season.
In Daniel 2:21-22 it says that God changes the times and seasons, that He reveals the hidden things that rest in the deep and brings light as He surfaces them. This too is not always that comfortable, but I believe that it’s deeply beneficial and as I’ve asked the Lord to go ahead with the show and tell, I have come to see it as a kindness. “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? No one knows the thoughts of God except the Sprit of God and that is the same Spirit that we have” – (1 Cor.2:10). Don’t be to hard on yourself as God continues to put His finger on some things…He’s not a “finger pointing” kind of God, but rather one who’d want to see us both carrying and wearing what looks good.
I pray that in these coming weeks as we literally get out different clothes for a different season, we would also figuratively let our spirits be changed too. Let’s allow the Spirit to search us that we might be even more fit for these times. I believe that God is fashioning us to look, move, and live differently. He’s sewing some things that need mending and attention, let’s be ready.
Blessings from a new place, DeAnn Carpenter