If It Doesn't Fit . . .

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 
David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 
Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:38-40

I am going to bare my soul ladies. A couple of weeks ago, I wore the wrong slip to church. Can any of you sympathize with me?

I woke up late and was running behind as I do most Sunday mornings. I’m not sure what it is about Sundays, but I just can’t seem to get up and move like I do Monday through Friday. Anyway, after the teeth brushing, shower, shampoo, blow dry, make-up and choose my clothes routine, I couldn’t find my slip. I know Oprah said we don’t need to wear them anymore, but I felt I needed one. Regardless of what Oprah says, my Mom taught me that a lady always wears a slip with a dress.

I searched through each of my drawers, in the closet, in the laundry room and even in Dan’s drawers. My slip couldn’t be found. So, I resorted to one of my older slips. One that was a little too tight. After thinking about it for a few seconds, I put it on and talked myself into thinking it fit. When I sat down to put on my shoes, it rode up. I pulled it down, and decided it wouldn’t do that at church and started out the door. Take my advise, if it doesn’t fit at home it definitely isn’t going to fit at church.

I arrived at church just in time to pull my slip down and get to my Bible class. I pondered as to whether or not I should just remove the slip and go slip less. I decided once again, to keep it on. I walked quickly to class, sat in the same chair I always do and listened to the class discussion. Although this time, my slip was riding up to my waist. I slyly try to pull it down as I wiggle behind the table. I was successful on one side but not the other. I know of few people around probably wondered why I was wiggling so much, now you know. It was the slip. After class, I waited until almost everyone was gone and grabbed my slip and pulled it down one last time. So I thought.

I walked into the sanctuary and begun walking around shaking hands with everyone. Much to my surprise, every step resulted in the slip moving up until it was to my waist. I went into the restroom and pulled it back down, admonishing myself for wearing a slip that was too small. Again, I wondered if I should just take it off. Of course I didn’t, I just knew this time it would stay down.

Church began and I stood to sing. Now, I wasn’t moving much so I still don’t know how the walk from the restroom to stand in my seat once again caused my slip to ride up. I was grabbing it through my dress trying to get it down, wiggling mighty fine I am sure. It is an art, pulling your slip down through your dress. You pull your skirt up about 3 inches, grab a piece of the slip and pull your skirt down as you do a jig. You continue these steps until it is down and then repeat these steps on the other side. I didn’t look to see who was behind me, because I am sure it was quite a show watching me try to get a ‘too small’ slip down back over my hips.

I shouldn’t have worn that slip. It didn’t fit. And because I wore it, I wasn’t able to think of anything else during that time. Of course I wouldn’t share this little incident if there wasn’t a story behind it. Many times we allow things in our lives to distract us without realizing it. In the case of my slip, because I was so adamant about wearing it, I was consumed with making one that was too small fit. Even when I knew before leaving the house that it wouldn’t stay down, I knew I couldn’t walk outside the house without one. Truth be told though, I didn’t need one with this particular dress.

When David was preparing to fight the Giant, Saul dressed David in his armor. I am sure the armor had saved Saul many times in battle and gave much needed protection, so he was offering it to David as he was moving into battle. Now, David was smarter than I was. He noticed right away that they didn’t feel right and that they would distract him, so he took them off and went to battle with the familiar things that worked for him in the past. He took his staff and his stones and walked out in the name of the Lord. He could have worn Saul's armor, but I wonder how the battle would have ended. Would he have been showing lack of faith at God’s protection? Would he have been distracted at the foreign armor and not able to move because it would fall down? Imagine David stepping out to slay the giant and then having to stop to pull down his breastplate. The inch trick wouldn’t work on that I am sure. And I doubt seriously that Goliath would wait for him to get it down in place. He would attack while David was distracted.

How many times have we put on things in our life that caused distraction to what God wanted us to do? Did we put on anger, instead of patience? Hate instead of love? Doubt instead of faith? That in our distraction, the enemy attacked? Let's be like David, take off those protections that don't fit, and walk out in God's name with only those things God armored us with. The full armor of God.

My prayer:
Dear Father, We lift up our lives today and ask for your mercy. Many times we put on armor that is too big and forget that you are in control. Help us to take up your armor only. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, out feet fit with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Give us wisdom to remove those things that are too small or too big and not try to make them fit. Keep us close in your love. Strengthen our faith. Challenge us to move outside our comfort zones and into your work under your name. Amen.