What Are You Spiritually Wearing? How to Dress Your Soul in Christlike Character
Have you ever found yourself at an event or outing and realized, “I am not wearing the right thing”? The wrong shoes can make a day out on the town miserable. Or a day on the water without a bathing suit can cause you to miss out on all the fun. It’s a good thing to be prepared with the right attire!
But what about our spiritual clothing? The Bible talks a lot about what we wear on the inside—and it matters just as much, if not more, than what we wear on the outside.
Preparing Our Spiritual Wardrobes
As much as we plan our outfits and shop for just the right look, Scripture encourages us to pay close attention to what we clothe ourselves with spiritually. Colossians 3:14–17 reminds us to “put on love,” while Ephesians 4:24 calls us to “put on the new self.”
The Proverbs 31 woman is praised because “strength and dignity are her clothing.” These aren’t outer garments, but inward ones—spiritual virtues that adorn a life devoted to the Lord.
Salvation is a free gift—given by grace through faith—but what we adorn our lives with is something we’re invited to take responsibility for. We get to decide what hangs in our spiritual wardrobe. Just like we might be known for a certain fashion style, our spiritual countenance should reflect someone who has been sanctified and made new in Christ.
My Life Before and After Jesus
Before I gave my life to Jesus, my spiritual wardrobe looked very different. It was filled with grief, addiction, manipulation, and bitterness. The bracelets of fear I wore felt more like shackles, and I rarely liked what I saw in the mirror.
But after surrendering to Christ, I started to trade in those old garments for something far more beautiful. Isaiah 61:3 speaks of God giving us “a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.” I wanted to be seen as the new creation I was—so I began to actively clothe myself in grace, truth, and dignity.
When the New Clothes Don’t Fit… Yet
Can I be vulnerable with you?
At first, these new clothes didn’t feel like they “fit.” I sometimes wanted to reach for the comfortability of my old grief or the familiarity of my addiction. I wrestled with imposter syndrome—feeling like I wasn’t “holy enough” to wear this new identity.
But over time, I began to walk in the confidence of who I truly was: a daughter of God. Eventually, the garments of grace, joy, and faith became more “me” than anything I had ever worn before. Now, I reach for them with ease and comfort. They feel like home.
Reflection: What Are You Putting On?
So let me ask you:
What are you adorning yourself with?
Does your spiritual “style” match someone who carries the inheritance of Heaven?
Are there old garments you still find yourself reaching for, even after knowing Jesus?
What can you actively do to replace those old garments with new, holy ones?
The beauty of life with Christ is that He invites us to dress in His righteousness. We don’t have to wear shame, fear, or condemnation anymore. Instead, we can put on the fullness of grace, love, and purpose.
So today, before you pick out your outfit, ask yourself:
What am I putting on spiritually?
Meet the Author
Elizabeth Jordan Arias
Elizabeth Jordan Arias is a prodigal daughter who has come back home and is determined to bring as many people to the Feast as she can. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia with her husband of 11 years, Benjamin, and their fluffy and very vocal cat, Guppie.
Elizabeth is passionate about studying scripture, particularly around the themes of hospitality, redemption, and eschatology, and has been in ministry for the past 5 years.
At any given time, she can be found buried in a fantasy book, embroidering or crafting something whimsical, or re-watching The Office for the millionth time.
