When I was a kid, dad drove us several miles each Sunday morning.  Clearly, Indiana flatness provides a great distance as farm after farm after farm separates by the miles dad drove and as the vast land gives a family a way to make a living. On the first day of the week (on Sunday) we would first head off to church, then dad would drive us to lunch (Burger King or KY Fried Chicken, or the Family Restaurant near the town Wheatfield). And then, later, after our lunch was complete, dad drove us to great-grandma & grandpa Godby’s house (a place that holds such wonderful memories & so many Sundays playing with my brother in great-grandpa’s “ginormous” barn).  The road was a familiar path we took each week, and one we became so accustomed to as we journeyed.

So when we passed by the “Nudest colony” each week, clearly, I remember lifting my backside off the back carseat and stretching my neck as high as possible, while trying to get a glimpse, (Yes) trying to get a look………..at what clothing they were NOT wearing.  The intrigue was most overwhelming to me, a skinny ten-year-old, but I Never Saw Over That Wall as Dad Went Speeding By. As a kid, I always wondered: Why? What did they have against Clothing?

Wearing Clothing.
It Is A Way Of Life.
Daily.
Yes, truly, A Way of Thought, What to Put On  &  What to Not Wear.
They say “Clothing Is Essential,” and (although our closet may not contain all that we desire) the Only Way to Live A Real Life Is Found In What We Choose to “Put On” Each Day.
A Conscious Decision. 
An Action.
A Movement.  A Reaching for This & A Selection of That.
We Must Make a Choice…..Each Day……..Today…..&…..Then the Next Today…..&…..Then the Next…..
Today, Tomorrow, Again   &   Again  &  Again.
Never Walking Outside Unprepared.   Never Leaving Home Without. Never Moving Throughout the Day Separated From Its Protection.

What to Wear……..Usually, what we choose to wear is somewhat dictated to us based upon the weather outside  &   by the calendar’s date  &  according to the tasks chosen for our one day.   

BUT………Maybe we will decide to “put on”………. Items for Battle……….Items Like——-The Breastplate.
The Shoes.
The Shield.
The Helmet.
The Sword.
The Petitions.
Let us remember why. The garments to wear, the choices are so important.   Let us remember who we fight against, who we face.  Yes, our adversary……he is so vicious….he has a name……he is as a lion……he is as a lion who roams…..he is as a lion who seeks many to devour……he is the prince of darkness…..he is our enemy…….he is the spiritual force of wickedness…………….Yes, let us always remember…..never forgetting……who we battle against.   Let us always remember what we have to gain……what we are promised from the One who securely holds our soul.   As we reach victory through Him…..through His strength……through that which is only found in our LORD…..through Almighty God.

Each day, I try to sleep later than the day before, but slumber alludes me for so many reasons.  Maybe sleep flees from you as well.    In either situation we find ourselves, we must arise and make a conscious decision, what will we wear today?   Will we wear a favorite golf shirt—OR—Will we wear the favorite t-shirt (you know, the one we love so much that it hardly has a moment to hang within our closet)—OR—Will we haphazardly grab anything hanging there in our closet, not really caring what we choose to “put on.”
Those who know Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD wear garments, clothing that prepares us for the battles we will face today. We dress, remaining ever so thankful for God’s salvation, for that only He can provide. God gives to us the garments, the clothing He desires that we wear……..Garments That We Place Upon Us.

• Wear the Covering of Truth & the Breastplate of His Righteousness Worn Across our Front 
• Place on the Shoes of Preparation  &  Put on the Gospel of Peace Placed Firmly upon our Feet.
• Pick Up the Shield of Faith and Hold this Shield Securely in front of us, Protecting our Heart.
• Place the Helmet of His Salvation upon our Head.
• Place the Sword of His Spirit Securely within our Hand—–Yes, the sword of His Holy Spirit.  &
• Lift up Prayers & Petitions, Lifted to Help Us Prepare Ourselves for the Battle Raging, the Battle Found in the day we will face. (Ephesians 6: 10-18)

What we select, what we choose, what we decide, and WHO we follow holds earthly and heavenly significance. God knows our enemy, and He knows what turmoils we will battle, and so God continually provides what we need. An impetuous, rush-to-action, fisherman chosen by Jesus knew something about being prepared to fight, about the daily battles people face, and about the devil, our adversary; Peter faced the fight with the devil in his own life. So, Peter (an apostle of Jesus Christ and inspired by God) wrote these words for humanity to read. These words are found in the Bible, in God’s Holy Word, words given to us from God, words to sustain us, to ready us, to carry with us, everywhere we go.

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.    AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,  but sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”  (1 Peter 3: 13-15).
What we Wear is a conscious decision every person must decide upon……What side of the battlefield will we choose to stand upon?……..Who will we follow?…….What will we choose to wear for our battle?……….Will we go wherever He leads?………Will we choose Him and be totally His?
Dressed in His Robe of Righteousness…….Are We?………Ready for the Battle?………Are We?