We women, over the course of a lifetime, wear a plethora of different types of hats. Some hats we wear continually. Some we wear for a period of time. Some we place on ourselves. Some others place on us. Some hats are stylish and comfy, while others don’t suit us or don’t fit. In this world, we can’t get away from wearing hats, but we can decide which ones we’ll wear and which ones we won’t.
There are relational hats such as wife, mother, sister daughter. Then there are hats we wear according to what we do – our job – whether it be paid employee, volunteer or stay-at-home mom. There are hats we enjoy wearing based on our good performance like great mom, fabulous cook, beautiful woman, savvy shopper, prayer warrior, hostess with the mostest….
But then there are hats that are placed on us, by others or by the enemy, that are not desirable. At times, those hats can be lies or labels from the enemy often delivered through well-meaning friends or family. Other times it may simply be a thoughtless, unkind word. Those hats can label us with lies, like lousy mom, terrible cook, inept employee, or that we’re not pretty or not smart, or not talented. Or maybe they speak rejection, guilt, condemnation or unworthiness. The enemy loves to beat us up and tell us lies, because when we believe them, we think God can’t use us. When we think we’re unusable by God, we don’t pursue Him or pursue the destiny He has for us. We live in bondage to the enemy because we believe his lies and, therefore, are unable to walk the path the Lord has for us and fulfill our destiny.
But God wants us to believe His Truth, not the enemy’s lies. He wants us to believe what HE says about us, not what the enemy says about us. Remember, the Lord has only good things to say about us and He only speaks the Truth. Just read His Word and you’ll know exactly what He thinks about you. He says we’re his children (John 1:12), we’re redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14), we’re seated with Christ (Eph 2:6), we’re free from condemnation (Rom 8:1), we are loved with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3), and so much more.
God wants us to wear HIS hats, the ones he created for us to wear – not the hats the enemy chooses for us. Our identity needs to be in Christ and who we are to Him, and nothing else. He wants us to get rid of the negative hats, the lying hats – the hats that hold us in bondage. He wants us to wear His hats of love and encouragement, acceptance and forgiveness, worthiness and righteousness, because HE forgives us, HE makes us worthy, HE makes us righteous, HE accepts us no matter what.
However, we’re not responsible to accomplish it. We can’t do it! God is the only one who can. It’s not up to you to do all the right things and be all the right things. The Lord just says, follow me and I will do it for you. What a deal! God will do it for us – whew! Now that’s freedom!
You are, who God says you are! Your identity should only be found in Him. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or place false hats on your head. We’re all a work in progress. Jesus is perfecting us day by day. However, that word “perfect” does not mean without flaws. We often make the mistake of assuming the biblical meaning of “perfect” is the same as the secular meaning – it is not! The biblical definition means that the Lord is leading us into the fullness of what He has for us, He’s maturing us and bringing things to completion in His timing. No where does the Bible say we have to be or will ever be perfect (flawless) on this earth. So, breathe a sigh of relief! You don’t ever have to be perfect. God doesn’t expect it and neither should you.
And, that’s just one of the hats the enemy uses against us. He has an endless collection of hats to oppose what God is doing in our lives. That’s why it’s so important to know the Word of God – so we can combat the lies of the enemy with the Truth of His Word.
God will always work with us to bring us into the fullness He has for all of us. He does expect us to love Him, seek him, make Him our priority, and live out His Word, but He will never expect us to be perfect. That takes a load off of us, doesn’t it? The Lord offers us truth and rest. Those are the hats we should eagerly pursue and confidently wear. Matt. 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (NLT). Now, that’s an inspiring promise we should all receive and apply to our lives.
Jesus loves us. That’s the bottom line. We’ve heard it our whole lives, sung about it, read it about, but do we believe it? He really loves us! It’s the reason He created us, the reason He died for us, the reason He dwells with us, perseveres with us, refines us, dotes on us. He has nothing but good things to say about us, good plans for us, eternal hope for us and a bright future (Jeremiah 11:29). So when you hear the negative statements, the discouraging and destructive words – the lying hats – don’t you dare put them on! But rather, go to the Word and see what your Heavenly Father has to say about you, and wear those hats.
Article Written By: Kim Shattell
