The matter of Modesty

Today I'd like to talk to you about something that is close to my heart. In all honesty, I've been wanting to do a post on modesty for a long time, but have been slightly held back to do so. I now feel like it is something that God has laid upon my heart to share with you all. I hope this can, in someway, be a blessing to you and your walk with God.

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The Matter of Modesty

1 Timothy 2:9 -  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel.

 

I think that the matter of modesty is probably one of the most overlooked things in the Christian life. So many churches have tried to avoid confrontation by sweeping the matter of modesty under the rug. I have heard so many people say, "we must not judge other people by their clothing because what really matters is what is in the heart". I believe that this thinking is flawed. I firmly believe that you can dress modestly and not have a right heart, but I also strongly believe that you cannot have the right heart and dress immodestly. 

What is in our heart will come out in the way we act, dress, and talk. Modesty is so much more important than what some of us think. The way we dress and hold ourselves is our testimony to others around us. If we are daughters of the king, shouldn't we dress in a manner well pleasing unto the Lord? The truth is - if your heart is right you will strive to be modest. Today, I'd just like to show you a few important things about modesty:

Where it starts

Modesty is not just a matter of what clothing we wear. It goes much deeper than that--it is a matter of the heart. Many people today say that we Christians can dress anyway we want as long as we feel like it is ok. I believe that modesty isn't just a personal conviction but a commandment that God gives to His children. We shouldn't look to ourselves to determine if something is modest or not--we must turn to God and His word. Modesty does not happen by accident; it is something that we must purpose in our heart. Have you given God control over every area of your life? Have you given him your heart? If you've truly given God your heart then you will strive to clothe yourself modestly. Give God control of what you wear. Ask yourself, while looking in the mirror at your outfit, "Is this godly?" Does this rightly represent myself as a daughter of the king?

Before asking yourself if your clothing is right; you must ask God if your heart is right! Are you willing to give God control of your wardrobe? If our hearts are right with the Lord then modesty will not come hard for us; it is something that we would gladly do for our Lord.

What it is

What do your clothes say about you?  Can people look at you and know you are a Christian by just looking at you? Does the way you dress improve your testimony for Christ or hinder it? 

Dressing modestly is more than a fashion statement, it’s a daily decision to dress like the child of God you are. The way we dress is a symbol to others around us. It is a part of our identity in Christ. The Bible says in Romans 12:1 -  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. We are commanded in the Bible to dress in a way that is well pleasing unto God. God wants our hearts, and if He truly has control of our hearts He'll have control of the way we dress. Modesty is presenting ourselves in a way that is holy, and acceptable to God. 

Why it's so important

We must want to dress for the pleasure of our king (God) not the desires of a man.

As Christian young ladies we must realize the importance of dressing modestly. We must dress in a pure fashion. Immodesty in the world today runs rampant. TV commercials, magazines, and posters are always showing women dressed in a sensual, ungodly way. In older times even the world had respect for modesty and shamed immodesty, but in the world today immodesty is publicly shown and even encouraged. Many today think that for a girl to get attention from a man she must dress in a way that is impure. God hates this! Our modesty is a symbol to others of who we are in Christ. God intended for us to dress in a way that is pure, lovely, and honoring to him. We must not dress in a way to get man's attention but to dress in a way that is well-pleasing to God. We must dress like a lady. We must wear clothing that is decent and that wouldn't lead to improper thoughts or impure actions. Our clothing says a lot about who we are! We must want to be known as daughters of the King. The way we dress is a huge part of our testimony. How can we reach the world for Christ if we act and dress just like them? We must clothe ourselves like God's children. In a decent, pure manner.

Ladies,  modesty is not just dressing like a lady but acting like one also. We must not only dress in a lady-like fashion, but we must act like a true lady of God. If you are saved then you are God's princess. He wants you to act and dress like one!

Guidelines for modesty

Maybe even before reading this you realized the importance of modesty, but maybe you haven't set personal standards for yourself on what to and what not to wear. I'd just like to share some personal guidelines on what I believe modest apparel is.

Is it feminine?
Deut 22:5  The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

The Bible clearly states that a woman is to dress like a lady. A lady does not dress like a man. My personal conviction is that ladies should not wear things that pertain to a man (ex. pants, shorts, etc.)  I think the women of today have lost true femininity. The world today encourages us to act like a man, take on the roles of a man, and to even dress like them! God made us different. We need to be ladies of Christ. We must dress in a feminine matter. 

Is it pure?

We must dress in a way that only leads to thoughts of purity. God did not intend for us to flaunt our bodies off and wear sensual clothing. We must cover ourselves in a godly manner. Before buying or wearing clothes you should first examine these three things.

Is it tight?

Notice I didn't say too tight...I just said tight. If it's tight we just shouldn't wear it. If you have to think about whether it's too tight or not, most likely it's just too tight. I'm not saying walk around wearing clothes that are twice your size and fit you like an unflattering sack...You can wear flattering clothes without them hugging your body.

Is it too low?

I think the general rule for determining whether something is too low is this: if you can't bend over without your shirt bowing out and cleavage showing then it is either too low or is too loose. I understand that most shirts on their own are pretty low and immodest. An easy fix for this is to just wear a cami under your shirt or use an amazing thing I love - called fashion tape (I know you can find this at Walmart, Cato, Target, and Kohls).  Making sure your tops are not too low is such an important part to dressing decent!

Is it too short?

Wearing a skirt does not mean you are dressing modestly. Skirts can be too tight and very often too short. Same thing goes for dresses! The rule for my family to determine if the length of a skirt/dress is long enough is: that if you can sit down and it's below the knee it's ok....if not it's too short.

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I hope that this was a blessing to some of you! I know that it can be difficult to dress in a manner of godly modesty. I know that sometimes it's hard to be different and that maybe sometimes you'll feel judged by others because you look and dress differently! Dressing modestly is an honorable thing and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. It is something that pleases the Lord.

Does the way you dress honor God? Does it present you as a daughter of the King? Purpose in your heart today to dress in a manner that is well-pleasing unto the Lord!
Modesty is always the best policy!

Keep shining bright

~Brittney