Good evening friends, I've heard this statement "A matter of the Heart" several times and then I'm also reading a book that part of the title is this. You know the Lord gives us the free will to make choices. Are choices made by the heart or the head??
This particular topic is one that in today's world is so very touchy. As a matter of fact when I gave me lesson in our ladies Conference last week, I was actually leery of speaking on this topic because of the ridicule and the harness of words I've seen and received for talking about it on face book, in person, over the phone. But yet after my lesson several ladies Thanked me for letting it be known that I take a stand, that I believe what the Bible teaches about, "MODESTY."
Psalm 19:8 "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." If we as Christians don't take a stand and if we don't teach what the Bible says about this topic, how will the world know? How will they know if we don't tell them? How will they know if we don't go? How will they know if we hide what we believe?
After our Ladies Conference that is when I decided that I was going to go ahead and do a full post or maybe 2 or 3 on Modesty. Some of my material will come from Mrs. Kathy Murray's book, all scripture will come from the King James Bible and then whatever the Lord lays on my heart to share.
First I want to start with a little of my testimony, I was raised in Church and in Christian School. My parents though not saved at the time believed I needed to be raised this way. In some ways we had standards of a Christian home, but not in the way mom and I dressed. As a child though I realized that my dress wasn't like the other children at school or church. I had really good friends who wore dresses all the time. At either 8 or 9 I stopped wearing shorts. Then when I was 12 I stopped wearing pants. At first when asked why I don't wear pants it was because, Dad and Mom said I couldn't. But eventually it became a matter of the heart. It became something I wanted so I would please my Lord.
Deuteronomy 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."
Now, I've heard that's the Old Testament, it doesn't apply to us today. *laughing Well, the last I knew the Bible in it's entirety is for us today!
James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Friends this is why I am talking about Modesty. I'm suppose to be a doer of the word. If I'm not doing as God says, and I'm hiding the Light of God so that they can't learn, I'm wrong. Our theme this past week at the conference was "Ye are the Light of the World" our of Matthew 5:14.
One of the ways I'm a light is by my dress. If I look like a bum, I'm going to act like a bum. If I'm dressed like a boy I'm going to act like a boy. You say, but they had "dress" pants. I challenge you to take a pair of "dress" pants and hold them up to a mans pair of slacks and tell me there's a difference.
Men's suit pants are NO different.
Girls, Ladies, Teens - when I'm walking through the store and I can't tell if there's a male or female in front of me, that's sad! All the way from the hair cut, to the clothes.
I Peter 3:3&4 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
*The Lord referred to the hidden man as having great price (worth). We ladies buy little gadgets for our homes. Now and then, I find some little object that turns out to be worth its weight in gold. For instance, I have a little square rubber gripper that helps me open those unruly jars when no one else is around. It cost me little and has no beauty, but it is most valuable to me. When we buy the fancy, decorative item that we just adore; often, as soon as the newness wears off, that wonderful item is now doomed to be sold in our next yard sale for little or nothing. The things that are most valuable to us are not necessarily the pretty ones, but rather, the useful ones. In God's sight, it is of great worth for a woman to have a modest spirit. The virtuous woman has a worth far above rubies (Proverbs 31). I have seen women who by the world's standard have unattractive features, yet their spirits radiated a pure loveliness that is rarely seen in our day. A woman like this affects others around her to the glory of God. On the other hand, I have seen women who had natural beauty, yet their spirits were domineering, loud, pretentious and disgraceful.
*In Psalms 1 is speaks of the blessedness of the person who refuses ungodly counsel. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Before we will resist the counsel of the ungodly, we must recognize it for what it is. Women lower their worth when they follow after the vanities of this world. A wise woman will seek and follow the counsel of godly influence and God's word. "...But his delight in in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be lie a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
*When you look at your clothes to determine what you will wear for the day, we should start by putting on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24) God will bless you for it.
These are just a few things on how modesty is meant to be. God made woman for man BUT only through marriage. That's a whole other topic, ladies, teens I care about what happens to you, and if you are saying, "Hey! Look at what I have!" Bad things can happen! But if you are dressed to please God you will look sharp and attractive, BUT not in the wrong way. I realize things can happen even to those doing right, but you rarely hear of the modest women being raped. It does happen but not nearly as much as with those who advertise.
In closing remember - The Lord warned us to consider our ways. Haggai 1:7
He proclaimed "...my people doth not consider." Isaiah 1:3
When we are careless God isn't pleased.
You have to determine to Live a Modest life.
In Joshua it says, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve."
When you dress:
1. Do you consider your choices and correct them if they are not pleasing to the Lord?
2. Who are you exalting? Ourselves, Man or the Lord?
*Modesty a Matter of the Heart Chapter 5
This particular topic is one that in today's world is so very touchy. As a matter of fact when I gave me lesson in our ladies Conference last week, I was actually leery of speaking on this topic because of the ridicule and the harness of words I've seen and received for talking about it on face book, in person, over the phone. But yet after my lesson several ladies Thanked me for letting it be known that I take a stand, that I believe what the Bible teaches about, "MODESTY."
Psalm 19:8 "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." If we as Christians don't take a stand and if we don't teach what the Bible says about this topic, how will the world know? How will they know if we don't tell them? How will they know if we don't go? How will they know if we hide what we believe?
After our Ladies Conference that is when I decided that I was going to go ahead and do a full post or maybe 2 or 3 on Modesty. Some of my material will come from Mrs. Kathy Murray's book, all scripture will come from the King James Bible and then whatever the Lord lays on my heart to share.
First I want to start with a little of my testimony, I was raised in Church and in Christian School. My parents though not saved at the time believed I needed to be raised this way. In some ways we had standards of a Christian home, but not in the way mom and I dressed. As a child though I realized that my dress wasn't like the other children at school or church. I had really good friends who wore dresses all the time. At either 8 or 9 I stopped wearing shorts. Then when I was 12 I stopped wearing pants. At first when asked why I don't wear pants it was because, Dad and Mom said I couldn't. But eventually it became a matter of the heart. It became something I wanted so I would please my Lord.
Deuteronomy 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."
Now, I've heard that's the Old Testament, it doesn't apply to us today. *laughing Well, the last I knew the Bible in it's entirety is for us today!
James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Friends this is why I am talking about Modesty. I'm suppose to be a doer of the word. If I'm not doing as God says, and I'm hiding the Light of God so that they can't learn, I'm wrong. Our theme this past week at the conference was "Ye are the Light of the World" our of Matthew 5:14.
One of the ways I'm a light is by my dress. If I look like a bum, I'm going to act like a bum. If I'm dressed like a boy I'm going to act like a boy. You say, but they had "dress" pants. I challenge you to take a pair of "dress" pants and hold them up to a mans pair of slacks and tell me there's a difference.
Men's suit pants are NO different.
Girls, Ladies, Teens - when I'm walking through the store and I can't tell if there's a male or female in front of me, that's sad! All the way from the hair cut, to the clothes.
I Peter 3:3&4 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
*The Lord referred to the hidden man as having great price (worth). We ladies buy little gadgets for our homes. Now and then, I find some little object that turns out to be worth its weight in gold. For instance, I have a little square rubber gripper that helps me open those unruly jars when no one else is around. It cost me little and has no beauty, but it is most valuable to me. When we buy the fancy, decorative item that we just adore; often, as soon as the newness wears off, that wonderful item is now doomed to be sold in our next yard sale for little or nothing. The things that are most valuable to us are not necessarily the pretty ones, but rather, the useful ones. In God's sight, it is of great worth for a woman to have a modest spirit. The virtuous woman has a worth far above rubies (Proverbs 31). I have seen women who by the world's standard have unattractive features, yet their spirits radiated a pure loveliness that is rarely seen in our day. A woman like this affects others around her to the glory of God. On the other hand, I have seen women who had natural beauty, yet their spirits were domineering, loud, pretentious and disgraceful.
*In Psalms 1 is speaks of the blessedness of the person who refuses ungodly counsel. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Before we will resist the counsel of the ungodly, we must recognize it for what it is. Women lower their worth when they follow after the vanities of this world. A wise woman will seek and follow the counsel of godly influence and God's word. "...But his delight in in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be lie a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
*When you look at your clothes to determine what you will wear for the day, we should start by putting on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24) God will bless you for it.
This is cute, but not modest. Now if you added a cute jacket with it, it would possibly be ok. However you still have the low cute. It's bringing attention to a part of the body that ONLY your husband should see.
Very modest not low cut, not to short. You can dress modestly but be appropriate. Now I'm not saying you have to wear long sleeves all the time, or where you see NO skin. But this outfit doesn't point out one area of the body when you look at this lady you see her beautiful smile.
Very immodest! When a mans attention is drawn to your thighs, your legs, your chest you are saying look at me! You are causing them to lust.
Here a little v in the neckline is fine. As long as it's in moderation. If you aren't sure ask your Pastors wife or someone who will lead to dress right.
Our daughter recently got married. She had a VERY modest wedding dress! A few moderation's and she had a gorgeous dress. Short sleeve but where when she raised her arms you saw nothing.
The front view, very modest and nothing showing that would be inappropriate.
These are just a few things on how modesty is meant to be. God made woman for man BUT only through marriage. That's a whole other topic, ladies, teens I care about what happens to you, and if you are saying, "Hey! Look at what I have!" Bad things can happen! But if you are dressed to please God you will look sharp and attractive, BUT not in the wrong way. I realize things can happen even to those doing right, but you rarely hear of the modest women being raped. It does happen but not nearly as much as with those who advertise.
In closing remember - The Lord warned us to consider our ways. Haggai 1:7
He proclaimed "...my people doth not consider." Isaiah 1:3
When we are careless God isn't pleased.
You have to determine to Live a Modest life.
In Joshua it says, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve."
When you dress:
1. Do you consider your choices and correct them if they are not pleasing to the Lord?
2. Who are you exalting? Ourselves, Man or the Lord?
*Modesty a Matter of the Heart Chapter 5
