Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forebearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. Colossians 3:12-14, Amplified

Put on love. You know every morning as I get ready for the day, I put on a new set of clothes. There has yet to be a day when my clothes put themselves on me. I decide what to wear and then make the effort to put it on.

Here in Colossians 3 Paul tells us to put on love. Sounds like something you do on purpose. But where do you get this love and how do you put it on?

Romans 5:5 tells us that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (KJV). Also, in Galatians 5:22-23 we see that deep within us are the fruit of the Spirit. As the Amplified Bible says the fruit is “the work which His presence within accomplishes” in our lives.

Where do we get this love we put on? It comes from the inside of us… His love in us, His fruit in us. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that we “are the temple of God” and that His Holy Spirit dwells in us. God is love (1 John 4:8). Love lives on the inside of you. And His Presence in you produces the fruit of the Spirit in your life, if you’ll put it on.

When circumstance cause you to fear or feel hate, choose to love. Choose to put on the love that is in you. When something happens and you feel sadness and grief trying to take hold of your emotions. Refuse to be sad and put on His joy in you, the joy that is your strength.

Many times when temptation has come I have said, “I refuse to fear. I choose to love. I yield to His love in me.” “I refuse to be sad. He took my griefs and sorrows. I yield to His joy in me.” I put it on by believing it’s in me and deciding in my heart and saying with my mouth “I yield to His fruit in me.”

When you are tempted to be anxious and fretful, yield to peace. When you feel impatience coming on, put it off and put on His patience. When you’re not feeling so kind, put on kindness and goodness. When you want to give up, put on His faithfulness. When your not feeling so gentle, put on gentleness (meekness and humility).

Ever had an issue with self-control? You have self-control on the inside of you. Yield to it. Put it on.

He has put His nature on the inside of you. Yield to His nature, yield to His love.

Pray this as needed: “I’m not feeling so lovely today Lord, but I yield myself to You today. I put on Your love. Love through me today”, in Jesus’ Name, amen.