Put Off – Put On

Former procrastinators, ever notice that the clothes we wear help determine our behavior? Classroom teachers used to comment that their students’ behavior was affected by the clothes they wore. If it was “picture day” and most dressed a little nicer, behavior was nicer. If it was designated “jeans day,” students were more rambunctious.

Our inclination is to stay clothed in the comfortable – the old man. The woman we naturally are is what we find pleasant. Jesus, however, wants us to dress in what He has provided – the new woman.

The resurrection reminds us we CAN put off procrastination and put on peace because Jesus died and rose to obtain victory for us. He has broken the chains that bind us to self and slothfulness.

Hence, the tagline on this website.

I chose “put off procrastination, put on peace” for two reasons: 1) The play on words – put off putting off – and get peaceful relief. 2) The scriptures that tell us to put off and put on – forsake our old selves and take on our new selves in Christ – who is Himself our peace.

Choosing to procrastinate, we’re looking for peace. We mistakenly think if we put something off, we’ll have relief. That’s a lie.

Ephesians 4: 21-24 says that we’ve learned the truth in Jesus, “that you PUT OFF concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you PUT ON the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

We put on the new man when we stop to listen to the complaining teen or we cook dinner early. We put on the new man each time we do what needs doing when it needs doing.

We can become accustomed to wearing appropriate clothes and be at ease in them. I recall a wedding reception at which all the men wore tuxes. My husband wore his military version. Someone said to him, “You wear this pretty often, don’t you?” “Yes ma’am, I do.” She said, “I can tell because you are so much more at ease in your clothes than the rest of the men are in theirs.”

The more we practice diligence, the more accustomed we become to doing what needs doing when it needs doing. It becomes our new natural. The more we practice diligence, the greater the peace in our hearts, minds, homes, circumstances, relationships.

We will be beautiful in Jesus’s choice for us!

What former conduct will you put off today in exchange for His new?