I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. (Ephesians 1:18)
My girlfriend Emily planned an overnight stay at a fancy hotel to celebrate my birthday. We had an hour long wait before our dinner reservation. I suggested we stop in at a nearby department store to look for my mother–of–the bride dress. Within minutes, I found two dresses I liked and headed to the dressing room. On my way, I saw a beautiful green dress that took my breath away. I snatched it off the rack and continued on.
I stepped into the first dress but realized it didn’t have a back. Perfect for a romantic night out with my husband, but not appropriate for the mother–of–the–bride. The second one was amazing—a beautiful blue silk with draping bodice. Finally, I slipped into the green dress. Emily screamed in excitement, “That’s the one!” The sales lady knocked on the door and asked if we needed anything. Emily swung the door wide open and said, “Doesn’t this dress look amazing on her?” A bit startled, she looked me up and down and said, “YES! Green is the color of hope.”
I thanked her for her kind words, shut the door, changed back into my dinner clothes, and walked out without the dress. The exquisite beauty was a bit out of my price range and besides we were going to be late for dinner I reasoned.
A few mornings later, as I sat quietly with the Lord he whispered, “You’re worthy of the dress.”
“What?” I wasn’t even thinking about the dress.
“The saleslady spoke a prophetic word over you” he continued. I flashed back to what she had said about green being the color of hope. “You’re worthy of the dress. When you wear the dress you’re wearing hope.”
Donny came into the office a few minutes later. I recounted what God said about the green dress. He responded, “You’d better order the green dress.”
I wore the dress when Jordan married Greg. Every time I look at their wedding picture, I’m reminded of the hope I wore on their special day.
Perhaps, God wants to give you a “green dress” too? A special gift to remind you of the hope you carry inside your heart.
