Dress for the Life you want

Perhaps you've heard the adage "dress for the job you want, not the job you have". The underlying concept at work here is faith. Faith that someday you won't be working the same job, but a better one, and by dressing for that job you don't yet have you're going public with the potential you see in yourself to get there. The bible says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) You're hoping for that promotion and planting the evidence that it's attainable.

But even more valuable than dressing differently on the outside, is the outfit you're wearing on the inside. If you're dressing like you're going to a black tie event on the outside but grubbing it up on the inside with a toxic attitude that sends even the most friendly people running, then that suit isn't getting you anywhere. The condition of your heart impacts the people around you a whole lot more than your outward appearance.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ~Colossians 3:12

Those are the attributes of someone who is in control of their internal attire: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. For some of us these might be last year's fashion, buried in the back of the closet, and it would take some deliberate digging to find them again. Or maybe these are garments that have never really been in your wardrobe. Either way, every morning we all decide to put on one outfit or another.

"But life isn't all ponies and daisies, Kyle."

You're totally right. Life isn't always fair and definitely has it's ups and downs. We're not in the Garden of Eden anymore, Toto, and sin makes this a treacherous landscape to navigate. But fret not and focus on controlling what you can control: you. You don’t need your situation to change in order to be happy; you need to be happy in order for your situation to change.

Too often we get the formula out of order. "If I only got this job, things would be easier.” or "I can't wait for that special someone to walk through my door". Why don’t you take steps now so that you're ready for then? Make tomorrow's "if only" today's "to do". Don’t justify your current actions as a byproduct of your temporary situation. That's textbook victim mentality. Stop waiting around for that dream job or perfect person to fall into your lap and start acting like that future version of yourself that seems so happy.

If I was writing a self-help blog I would stop there, but there are some internal hurdles that we simply can't get past solely on our own will power. There are times when we become so blinded by our own emotion and struggle that our only hope for tomorrow rests in the hands of God. He has the ability to carry us to places our mind wasn't able to go.

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; 
     He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
     from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
     but the Lord supported me.
He led me to a place of safety;
     He rescued me because he delights in me.
~Psalm 18:16-19

God engineered us to be conquerors just like Jesus but part of that design was a dependence on Him. Our strength to persevere comes from the fact that we belong to Him.  We can be of good cheer knowing that Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33) and his Father's plans for us are for peace and hope, not demise (Jeremiah 29:11). And we can be certain, that if the good Lord has plans for you, following them will take you beyond your wildest dreams. 

Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart ~Psalm 37:4

So let your attitude be one of confidence, faith, and thankfulness knowing that God is giver of the best gifts. He knows you better than you think He does and wants to bless His children just like a dad who shows favor to his good-natured kids. Dress your heart today in faith and expectation for the life God has for you.