Modesty: Girls Gone Mild

Real Beauty Part 3

True Beauty.

Oh, modesty.

The word that everybody emphasizes, but a concept that nobody seems to fully understand. Let’s get straight to the core. In order to determine what modesty is, it may be helpful to first determine what it is not. Modesty is not about you. Modesty is not about people pleasing. Modesty is not about submitting on the outside. Modesty is not about “following the rules.” Modesty is not dressing like your grandmother. Ladies and gentlemen, modesty is a heart issue. Consider the thoughts you have when getting dressed each day. Are you thinking about how you can show grace to others by dressing in a way that will not distract them and ultimately glorify God or are you concerned with what __________________ is going to think about you?? (Yes, I went there.) When approaching modesty, it becomes clear over time that your clothes reflect your heart. As women, the Bible calls us to place our focus on our souls rather than our bodies. This does not mean that we should disregard caring for our bodies, it just means that giving attention to your appearance should not be your primary focus. 1 Peter 3:3-7 tells us, “Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious,” (ESV). In John 3:16 we learn that God sent His only son Jesus to die for His children. If you are truly sorry for your sins, ask God to have mercy on you and forgive you, turn from your sins and trust in Him, love Him and serve Him, you are His child. He subjected Himself to living as a human so he could know how you feel in your struggles. He lived just so He could die. For you. His child. When we consider how much God loves us, it makes us want to love Him and live for Him in wholehearted devotion. There are trials and temptations in this world. Sometimes we are tempted to think that life would be so great if we received attention from certain people because we think that once we have their attention, we are that much closer to making them love us. This is a huge battle, which is also a huge lie and unfortunately it can often be seen in how we dress. A woman whose heart is set on Jesus will dress in a way in which does not draw attention to herself. A woman who doesn’t know Jesus seeks love and affection and since she does not know Him as her personal Savior, she will not be able to comprehend His love and will seek to fill the void in her heart from other temporary sources. Deuteronomy 4:4 says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God,” (ESV). You have more attention and love than you ever deserve in the arms of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that if you don’t know Him, He would have mercy on you and you would be adopted as His child. If you do know Him as your Lord and Savior, my prayer is that you would become more like Him. I pray that as women in the church (and even those outside of it) our hearts would be convicted and we would desire to dress in a way that does not cause our brothers in Christ to be tempted to sin and in a way that tells the world, “Jesus has my heart and it’s resting safely in His hands.” Ladies I get that this is hard. Guys, you never will. My whole life I’ve battled with swimsuit shopping. Not because I can’t find one that is modest enough (although that did seem to be more of a battle this year), but because I can’t find one that is long enough. Words can’t express the frustration I had in the Target dressing room going through small, medium and large in the same swimsuit hoping that with each size increase the suit would be longer (lesson learned: they only make them wider). I finally found an affordable one piece (affordable meaning $30.00 – guys count your blessings in that you buy a pair of water resistant shorts and you’re good to go) only to learn that some guys have issues with one pieces because they show too much leg. *SIGH* I really just want to be able to purchase clothing that doesn’t require a minimum of 3 layers in order to be modest. It is hard because sex, not modesty, sells. Clothes are designed to show us off – in a sense it’s all the wrong moves in all the wrong places. I’ve gone on many shopping trips in which I’ve searched multiple stores for hours and went home empty handed (mom, you’re my witness). As I have grown up in soul, I have realized how great God’s love for me truly is and in turn He works in me to love Him more. Because of this love, I want to show grace to my brothers and dress in a way that doesn’t start a battle for their hearts and souls every time they interact with or see me. I don’t have this down perfect. In fact, my heart only really started to change in this area about two years ago (in my early twenties I was a rebel without a cause). Ladies and gentlemen alike, be encouraged. Know that, “. . . the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us,” (Romans 8:18 ESV). Gratifying ourselves, whether it be in the way we dress or the pleasure we take from the way others dress, may seem pleasant in the moment, but it is choosing to live contrary to lifestyle of purity that we have been called to in Christ. 1 Timothy 5:22 states, ” Do not be hasty in in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure,” (ESV). Guys, how will you change your hearts and minds in encouraging women to dress modestly? Ladies how will you change your heart and your wardrobe to draw attention to Christ rather than yourselves? Hmmmm . . . are you thinking what I’m thinking??? All together now, “Shopping trip!!!”

Love, Lolo

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