When reading the passage about women adorning themselves in the past, I thought that it was at church specifically- I'm not sure why. Reading this again today, I saw it read in "every place." I know in the past, I have not been aware of the clothes I wore, I would dress to impress, and show cleavage, or wear certain clothes to show my figure in a more provacative way. I was more concerned about looking attractive than I was at honoring God. It doesn't help that fashion today is all about revealed skin, and that ads and movies make it seem that that's the sexy way to dress. However, we are not to conform to the world, but be godly in all that we do. I started to become convicted of my "dress code" about 2 years ago. It was hard for me, because I felt the Lord ask me to get rid of some of my clothes. I would put on my favorite shirt, and God would ask, why do you like that shirt so much? Why do you feel the need to wear it? My answer was never because of the comfort or color. I knew I wore it because it showed me off more and I felt sexy in it- to the trash can it went. This was a significant transformation in my life. Learning to dress modestly and respectable. There are still days today when God questions the intentions of what I wear- even if it doesn't reveal too much. Who am I dressing for? We need to realize that the way we dress effects the people around us too. If you are dressing without modesty, or even just showing more than you should, you may be causing a married man to lust upon you. I'm not saying it's your fault for their lust, but you are tempting them to look at you. Isn't that the reason you wore what you did in the first place- to have men look at you, making you feel more attractive? Think about that for a minute. Are you married? Whether it's your husband, boyfriend or a future spouse- would you want their eyes to be fixed upon another woman because she is showing more skin than she should? Obviously there are just beautiful people in the world that we are attracted to, and we will notice those people- but it's obvious when someone is dressing for attention. I am kind of embarrassed about it actually. It showed insecurity in myself, that I needed to dress inappropriately to gain approval from men, and some of this time, I was married! A little over a year ago, I had on an outfit, that wasn't revealing- in fact, I was 8 months pregnant with Oskar- but I had on these big metal, royal blue, hoop earrings. My shirt had the same color running through it, and these earrings made my outfit- I even wore my hair up to show em off. I was on my way to church and I felt the Lord say, take them out. I wrestled with it at first- they were just earrings. But God revealed to me the intention of heart- which was to be noticed. If someone wears a pretty shirt, we notice- right? But my heart was looking for attention and that was ungodly. I took the earrings out, and threw them out. I went to church with no earrings in the first of my three holes, with my hair up to reveal the missing earrings. To me, that's like having pants that have belt hoops that are seen, without a belt! It is a fashion no-no. As silly as my story sounds to you, it was a big day of growth for me. I constantly try to check my heart with what I wear or adorn myself with. Who am I dressing for? Why am I wearing what I am? I've gone through my wardrobe and gotten rid of clothes, shoes and accessories. I still like looking pretty, but my intentions are not the same. I'm not saying I never dress to impress, but I try not to, and I believe I have better awareness of how I present myself- in church, and everywhere.
~Leanne~
~Leanne~
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