SAY YES TO THE DRESS

From Michelle Haswell:

Three years ago the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress” was a much watched program in our home as our daughter Nicole was preparing for her wedding. Finding the right dress, as most of us know, is quite an important matter for the bride-to-be!

I have realized as believers that we too have a “right dress” to wear. This outfit is fitting and completely equipped with all we need to navigate every season, every challenge, and everything we might walk through in life. As parents, we know there are many expected and unexpected moments that we are called to handle on a daily basis.

Our Heavenly Father has made abundant provision for us in giving us a perfect outfit for this occasion called parenting. This outfit can never be stripped away and will always fit perfectly. This is what we are invited to say yes to:

  

1. We Wear No Condemnation

Romans 8:1 tells us clearly that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

The good news is we can shake off, "I'm a terrible parent " once and for all. It just doesn't fit. Condemnation is like a shoe that gives us blisters. We are chosen and approved by Jesus to wear a beautiful robe of righteousness. 

Let's say yes to that dress!

2. We Wear Joy 

Isaiah 61:3 tells us that we have been given a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.

Even more exciting is that this joy of The Lord is our very strength, and as parents we all know how much we need the Lord's strength each day as we raise the precious gifts He has given us. He has clothed us with joy! 

Let's make a deliberate decision to put on joy.

3. We Wear Heaven’s Power

Luke 24:49 speaks about being clothed with power from on high.

Because we wear the power of God we can say no to things that are not helpful in our homes and yes to things that are good. We can say no to negative attitudes and yes to gentleness and kindness. We are not powerless as parents, but rather we have the full backing of The Lord who has clothed us with His power and made heaven’s resources available to us. Healing, provision, wisdom, and understanding are just some of what is available to me because I wear heaven’s power. 

Let's declare as parents that we have the power of God as our support.

  

4. We Wear Peace

Fear and anxiety are not strangers to anyone who has entered the arena of parenting. Our love for our children runs so deep, and if they are not ok, neither are we! Being calm about other people’s situations seems so much easier!

The amazing news is that in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 we are told that we can live at peace at all times.

That has to be supernatural ... And it is! We wear the peace of God at all times! Even better, we can impart the Lord’s peace to our children. When they have a bad day at school, we can impart heaven’s peace to them because we have it to give.

I think people enjoyed being around Jesus because He is the Prince of Peace. Some people impart peace to others because they are confident in the Lord’s love for them. Peace fits us perfectly because we are His children and we are like him.

Most of you know the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. What is fascinating to me is Lazarus gets raised from the dead and walks out with burial cloths still around him.

He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, "Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go." (John 11:10, 43, 44 AMP)

Let's say yes to the dress of peace.

As parents, let's say yes to this dress of no condemnation, joy, peace and power and let's take off fear and anxiety, heaviness and accusations that weigh us down .

You are hand-chosen to be the best parent for your child and then beautifully clothed by God and well-equipped to meet every need because of what you wear.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10 AMP)

You will hear more from Michelle at Hope at Home 2014, September 26-27. Register Today!