March 17, 2026

OUR SPIRITUAL WARDROBE CHECK

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

"Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life... Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." 

Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

1. “Throw Off" (The Eviction)

Before you can wear the new, you must discard the old. Paul uses a Greek word here often used for taking off filthy clothes at the end of a long day’s work. You cannot layer the "New Nature" on top of "Old Habits."

• What to look for: Bitterness, lying, anger, and "hopeless confusion."

• The Action: Don't try to "fix" the old nature; evict it. Acknowledge that those behaviors no longer fit who you are in Christ.

2. The "Mind Shift" (The Inner Lining)

Between "taking off" and "putting on," there is a middle step: Renewing your thoughts. The Spirit works in the "inner lining" of your mind. If you don't change the way you think, you will eventually go back to the clothes that felt familiar. You must trade the "darkness of the mind" for the "light of the Word."

3. The "Put On" (The New Uniform)

Finally, you "Put On" the new nature. This nature was created to be just like God—righteous and holy. It isn't something you manufacture; it's something you appropriate.

This Week’s Wardrobe Audit

Paul gets very specific in the following verses. Use this checklist to see what you're wearing today:

The "Dirty Rags" (Take Off)	The "Royal Robes" (Put On)
Lies & Exaggeration	The Plain Truth
Selfish Anger (The Sun goes down on it)	Quick Reconciliation
Taking/Stealing (Time, Credit, Money)	Hard Work & Generosity
"Rotten" Language (Sarcasm, Gossip)	Encouragement (Building others up)

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help me do a wardrobe check today. I choose to throw off the heavy, dirty rags of my old temper, my old fears, and my old speech. Renew my mind today so I can see myself as You see me. I put on the new nature You’ve given me—help me to walk in righteousness and holiness today. Amen.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”