💃PURIM | The Garment

In the Purim story, we read that Esther inquires what to wear when approaching the King. As women, we're familiar with the phrase, "Say YES To The Dress." Purim offers abundant analogies, most of which fit so well with the days we live in. We too face an evil plot; we too are aware of it and can see the day approaching. Along with a period of fasting, we also seek direction from intensive prayer and have steadfastly and courageously concluded that if we perish, we perish. In this beautiful story of danger and deliverance, the stakes couldn't be higher.

As Rebekah from Teshuvah Ministries points out in her Purim teachings, the shoulders HOLD the dress onto the body. These shoulders of love, on which the rest of the Royal Law hangs, are twofold: to love our Elohim with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The rest of the Law hangs on these two. A wedding dress hanging on a bride's shoulders, compromised by a rebellious attitude, shamelessly devoid of dignity, and clinging to the altar of her self-centered ego, is very disgusting. Just as the High Priest wore the Ephod that hung from his shoulders, we are to be carrying our garment with reverence and responsibility.

Father is looking for people who hold their shoulders up (the Laws of Love). He's looking for humble people who are humble enough to say, "Elohim, King of the Universe, dress me in such a way that You are pleased," as Esther did. "Bestow Your garment of praise, and iron out every spot and wrinkle. Adorn me with Your light of Truth, and place Your pearls of Wisdom around my neck."

As we move forward, approaching the day that we're called to be with our Bridegroom Yeshua, remember that we belong to Yeshua because the Father said we were HIS to give; *JOHN 17:6- I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they kept thy word.

The Father always gives away the Bride. Elohim, our Father, is now preparing us to be ready to be presented, as a present, wrapped in robes of righteousness for His only begotten Son. Until that great day, we fight by the Spirit and consult the Ruach HaKodesh to tell us the best approach to take in battle, just as Esther did.

We're choosing daily what dress we'll be found wearing when our Adoni, Messiah, comes for us. And we, like Esther, after doing all we can, after making our best effort, will yield ourselves to the King.

Until we can trade our battle armor for a robe of righteousness, our hearts are being prepared to please the King. After sifting through the theological lies that run generations deep, the distractions of foolishness and filth, and paying the price of worldly separation, we now endure and wait for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. That heavenly, divine appointment when we'll be together, sharing the Covenant of Love throughout all eternity. Yes, Father Elohim, we yearn to please you and wholeheartedly say, "Yes" to the dress.