"Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic all purpose garment. Never be without it." Colossians 3:14  {MSG}

Suppose all that people saw of you were your spiritual gifts?  What if your outward appearance didn't show but only what was inside your heart? I would be so scared for others to see what is inside! I want to hide some anxious, bitter thoughts away because I may feel I deserve to hold on to them. Oh, I feel blah just writing about it!

Maybe you can remember a time when you were sure that you had conquered a certain fear, but it seems to have found its way back into your heart. I hate when that happens, but it may need just another nudge to leave you alone for good! God knows our hearts better than we do. Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us that we don't know how wicked our own hearts can be, but God sees all and loves us anyway. God searches our hearts, and know our thoughts, and still He continues to work to get us free! He knows a little push here or there is what is necessary to release His unfailing mercies and truth in us.

How do we put on love as a garment? We choose love. We push away from anything else.We have a choice to walk in love or fear, or hatred. These emotions can be a stronghold on us, and may seem as if we cannot choose something else, but that is not the truth. "Whom the son sets free is free indeed." {John 8:36} Remember, it's not our strength but God's that we should rely on. How do rely on Him? We read His word, and if need be, take it as medicine. Our hearts are sick from sin, so he is the only remedy.

We are all tried by fire, to see what we are made of. At times we need to dig deep to find Jesus, because we have pushed Him away all too much. I for one can attest to this. Why don't I take Him at His word? I am learning, and so are you, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. Fight for love to be the first thing to come out of your mouth!