If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! I’m so thankful you’ve joined me.
I read this quote the other day and I’ve thought of it often since.
An unhealed person can find offense in pretty much anything anyone does. A healed person understands the actions of others have nothing to do with them. Each day you get to decide which you will be.
Unknown
I believe I am a healed person. I know I am. Yet reading this quote made me think about an incident that took place earlier this week. Someone said something that got under my skin. It’s not unusual for these things to happen in all the togetherness that takes place over the holidays, but it caused me to think.
Why had I allowed these this to get to me?
I went into the holidays with a heart to enjoy the people and the moment. But I also allowed those words to intrude into my thoughts and into a special day.
It’s time to take something off!
In today’s Encouragement for Today devotion, I shared a verse from Isaiah 61:3. In this verse, the prophet declares that the Israelites can throw off their heavy garments of unresolved grief, disillusionment, and sadness to exchange it for a new garment — one of praise.
I love the idea of putting on a garment of praise, one that soaks through to my heart, my soul, and my life.
But to put on a garment, we first take one off.
We throw off unforgiveness to wear grace. We throw off resentment to cover our souls in peace. We exchange a garment of hurt for healing. We take off a heavy garment of self-condemnation for relationship with a God who knows who we are, and who we are becoming.
So, without condemnation but with anticipation, I held up this moment before the Lord. And what I saw was an invitation to take off a garment of offense. In it’s place, I can put on a garment of forgiveness, or a garment of discernment, or a garment of wisdom to know that I was a little bit weary and overstimulated from such a long stretch of noise and activity, and maybe I just needed to take 30 minutes and rest or sit down and enjoy the moment, rather than trying to clean or care for others.
What heavy garment are you wearing?
Even as God heals, the work continues. Those garments are tossed to and fro as he places the “new” on us. We grow. We stretch. We discover the depths of God’s work in our hearts and lives. So, if you have been wearing a heavy garment, throw it off today to receive what God has for you.
Suzie
Start the new year with a daily devotional from Suzanne (Suzie) Eller, Come With Me Devotional: A Year-Long Adventure in Following Jesus.
Walk with Jesus daily through the book of Luke, and grow through His words and example.
Giveaway
What’s one thing you sense God asking you to remove in order to receive the new?
Share your answer, a prayer request, or a scripture that encourages you as God helps you remove unwanted, heavy garments to exchange them for something brand new!
I’ll randomly choose one winner on this site and on Instagram to win a copy of the Come With Me Devotional!
Brand new resource
Have you checked out our new KLRC Podcast Network podcast with Holley Gerth and Jennifer Watson?
It’s More Than Small Talk and we’ve already connected with many new friends. I hope you’ll be the next one to join us! If you want to leave freer, go deeper, then this is for you!
I feel the Lord is asking me to remove conformity to the patterns of this world by transforming my life to reflect His image through love. Romans 12:2
I feel like God has been asking me to remove a garment of anger. Sometimes it’s easy to let the trouble & stress of daily life weigh you down in anger & frustration. A verse that has stuck with me lately is James 1:19 “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” It is often a challenge to listen first & form a response before becoming upset but I continue to work on it daily.
I Feel like the Lord is leading me to peel off my sight and walk by using my faith in him! Yes my eyes do see but if I use my faith I will learn to b blind to the world and trust in my faith in him!!!
Expectations. I am trying to learn to live one day at a time, with NO expectations. But I am a planner and do not deal well with the unknown, so expectations are a hard thing to let go of. Please pray for me as I am praying this new year brings growth and restoration to my life.
In His Service,
Linda
Walking away from fear. This was exactly what I needed today. ♥
Thank you for this important reminder!!
Thank you for this message! I am praying for the blessings needed from God so that my heart and mind are set on trusting Him more! God’s Blessings Always!
A very perfect word of truth for me. Thank you.
I want to walk away from generation curses, anxiety and depression that have plagued my family for many years. I want to be who God says I can be!
To be more aware of scripture and to make it my own. Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.”I am going to also write down the scripture you gave.
What a word from the Father. I was recently hurt by someone close to me and though we talked about it and I forgave her it kept coming up in my mind. I will throw off this blanket of heaviness for one of joy. With His help I will bless instead of fret. Thank you for this, I so needed it!
I was laid off from my job in 2016. I was blessed with a decent severance and a new job with the same pay in just a few weeks. Still I have not let go of the rejection and loss the lay-off brought nor have I truly embraced the new opportunity God has given me. I applied and interviewed for several positions with the old employer in 2018, believed I was the obvious choice, but was not selected for any of them. I asked God for His will through it all and clearly it seems this isn’t what He has for me, yet I can’t seem to shake the loss or rejection and move on. I’m ready to trust God with the plans He has for my life in 2019 and follow Him with joy and thanksgiving regardless of the circumstance.
Oh,Suzie, thank you for this post. I appreciate your imagery of casting off the “old garments” of hurt, frustration, misunderstanding, pride, and anger. How could we ever experience our Savior’s peace and joy under such weighty burdens. Psalm 55:22.
I feel God is telling me to let go of the relational struggles within our family and to just humbly love everyone and He will heal, restore and renew in His time. 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Thank you, Suzie, for sharing this quote. It brought to mind the fact we never know what someone else might be going through. Our greatest defense is God’s Word and praying for His wisdom & discernment.
I am praying and asking God what I need throw off. I know there is something specific today but can’t figure it out yet, so I am seeking Him today to find out.
I need to leave the past behind and walk into the future and embrace all that God has for me now!
I cried when I went to bed last night feeling exactly like your devotional stated. I woke up and read your words this morning and tears came again. I asked forgiveness from our Lord and I pray I will be quick to replace my garment of self-condemnation for a blessed relationship with God and others. Thank you for your ministry in words.
Karen…thank you for this… I do this often… It helps to know we’re not alone in our feelings! When this happens I try to remember to praise God for the way He made me and ask forgiveness for feeling bad about His creation. Then I list the ways God loves me and why, also reminding myself that Jesus is the only perfect one…. we’re a mess relying on His grace to cover our imperfectness!!
I hope this helps….blessings!
Thank you so much Tammy for your words of encouragement. You are a blessing to me.
🙂
I’ve been dealing with issues of sadness, bouts of depression, fears and anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7 is one of my favorite verses
I am struggling with fear and anxiety , sadness and bouts of depression. Philippians 4:6-7 is one of my favorite verses. I’d like to take off these heavy garments today.
Suzie, mine is selfishness. Too many times I worry about the effects on me instead of those God trust me to help Him with! Lord, please help me rid myself of all selfish notions and reach out to others with unconditional love in your name!Amen…
And thank you Suzie for the reminder 🙂
the Lord is asking me to believe His words that He says about me and to stop letting other people’s thoughts, words, and rumors even be entertained. That is from Satan and he takes my joy.
Amen, Brandy.
I feel God is calling me to control my words better.
To fully trust, and forgiveness of a double betrayal that occurred primarily in my home and my actual bed for many years. Restoration of what the Locusts stole and were also freely given is a struggle.
My heart has been so heavy for over a year. Longing for a circle of Godly friends. 2 years ago my world was flipped upside down with both a brain cancer diagnosis followed by Radiation. Slowly I watched my once so strong and loving village, disappear. I feel the Lord, telling me to seek Him. He will fill the hole in my heart. He’s wanting me to come closer to Him. It’s just hard to feel forgotten during such a difficult season.
Kayla, I feel so moved by your situation! I too am looking for a circle of friends, but as a result of my own isolation over the years because I didn’t believe anyone would want me as a friend. I will pray that God will grant you the desire of your heart!
Bless you, Kayla. Many people withdraw because they don’t know how to speak to people with the disease. Joining a cancer support group helps because they understand how you feel and can answer questions from experience. I’m a lung cancer survivor saying a prayer for you.
Suzie I think we all struggle with these issues. Satan loves it when we do!! I really work at seeing the positive of others but at times it’s a struggle! Thank you for these words to think about! God bless you!
Suzie,
I need to throw off the garment or weariness of physical and emotional. I am so weary that I cannot do what God has called me to do. I want out of this so I can be healthy again to serve my God
Janice…. THANK YOU!! I claim this need as well, but didn’t realize it until I read your words! I have had physical issues that lead to emotional ones that keep me down….not feeling like I have enough to give others! I’ll pray for your health issues dear one as I know how it can drag you down 🙁 Blessings and thank you for sharing…it helped me recognize this garment to toss within myself!!
Throwing off a spirit of resentment, for so many hurts and wrongs that I perceived. Putting on grace, forgiveness, understanding and a new pair of glasses to see things differently. Praying for trust in faith that I am indeed hearing God’s voice leading me toward a career I believe he has called me into.
Gail, this Gayle, is right with you…Had bad news today in what I thought was my mission and ministry and I was “phased” out of a part time, meaningful job that I loved and counted on….oh well, Release time and Let Go and Let God. The healing is happening.
I originally thought how this could apply to my current battle with breast cancer, but really what garment I need to cast off is the lingering disappointment I harbor regarding my youngest son’s drug addiction and lifestyle he has chosen. I have forgiven him for all of the heartache,lies, etc and pray he will experience a heart change and come back to God, but I haven’t let go of the sorrow and disappointment I feel. Several times I thought he had hit rock bottom, a turning point. Even thought my recent diagnosis would shake him. It did not. I love him,and continue to pray. But I have to exchange this dis appointment for a cloak of peace.
Father, thank you for loving us and always walking with us. You understand disappointments; you walked through them too. I pray for Donna and her health as she is battling cancer. Give the doctors wisdom in their care for Donna. I ask you to remind Donna that you love her son so deeply, even as he continues to stray away from you, his Creator. Pour your presence of peace around Donna’s heart and thoughts tonight. I ask that you place people in her son’s everyday life to see the beacon of your love for him. Thank you, Lord, for meeting us here tonight. Amen.
Donna, one of my favorite verses I pray over my family members who have stepped away from God or who do not believe in our Savior is Ezekiel 11:19, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”
🙂
Praying for your peace…. I had to find mine with my son…He’s getting closer all the time whether he knows it or not!! It’s such a heartache, along w/ your health issues, but I do know there’s hope for our loved ones….just trust in God’s plan. Blessings dear Donna.
2Corthians 10:5 take captive of every thot
My prayer is to do that n let God
Take over in every one of my thots
Unforgiveness, insecurity and fear.
Thanks for sharing this.
Nydia, you are loved, seen, and wanted by God. He loves you deeply. He leaves the 99 for you, friend. Michele
I need to throw off fear and anxiety. They have been a part of my life for far too long. My verse is Isaiah 26:3.
God has been reminding me through many avenues, words and even this blog post, that the actions of others has little to do with me and more with what they are choosing and what they are dealing with. It is hard to always remember that in ministry when they say No to church and joining into community that it’s not me personally but a lot of what they are dealing with. It’s my role to keep the door open and keep my heart open and not resentful. It’s a tough place and something I have to keep reminding myself of. Thanks for these encouraging words.
I’m being called to take off the heavy burden of perfectionism which keeps me from trusting God to help me in the moment — and keeps me from moving ahead instead of trying to overthink how to do things better next time.
Powerful imagery-truth in your post today. God bless you!
Gina, I understand your desire of taking off the burden of perfectionism. I lived in the cycle of perfectionism due to trying to be accepted by others for way too long. God’s perfect timing, love, and resources (Suzie Eller) helped me slip off that garment of perfectionism and slip on God’s purpose on me. Hugs to you friend, Michele
Love that, Gina! Praying that you feel the freedom as you step into this!
Throwing off expectations of others, myself, and past disappointments that have hindered being intentional in the moment that is here and now. Love this as a visual, taking off the old and putting on a garment of praise that is fresh, new present!