Lets Get Personal: Dress Yourself for Work

But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.

-Jeremiah 1:17

As God's prophet, Jeremiah is directed to prepare himself for the labor of speaking God's word to a difficult and unrepentant people. The manner in which Jeremiah is to dress indicates that his work will be difficult and extensive. In addition, we can draw that the audience to which he is to speak will not be an encouragement to him but rather will disappoint him by their lack of concern for God's word. Regardless, God's message needed to be heard. The Lord would not have sent Jeremiah with a message unless him bearing it served the purposes of God.

Lord, in the same way you have called us to prepare for a life of hard work as messengers of your gospel. We will face hardship, we will not always be received warmly and we will most definitely experience discouragement at some point. But you, God, give us the strength to move forward, with the hope of eternity as our fuel; you have a purpose in your message to this world, that people would come to know you and gain salvation through it.

Therefore, I will dress myself in Your armor for this laborious task. Lord, help me not to be dismayed, in fact refresh in me a spirit of joy for your work and a countenance of peace, knowing that you have already secured victory.