Today is day three of our series on Modesty and we’re going to journey back to last year. Diane Hunt has written a series on Modesty that can help us as we seek to apply it to our own daily lives. It’ll be posted in two parts, so stay with us!!
Diane writes:
I found this Modesty Heart Check brochure very insightful and helpful. I pass it along in two parts for your consideration and edification:
Modesty Heart Check
By Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw
“…Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness-with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Start with a heart check…
“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? Or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to lure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.” John MacArthur [Emphasis added]
* What statement do my clothes make about my heart?
* In choosing what clothes to wear today, whose attention do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking to please God or impress others?
* Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control and respectable apparel, or does my dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination with sinful cultural values?
* Who am I trying to identify with through my dress? Is the Word of God my standard or is it the latest fashion?
* Have I asked other godly individuals to evaluate my wardrobe?
* Does my clothing reveal an allegiance to the gospel or is there any contradiction between my profession of faith and my practice of godliness?1
1 http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1170-06-59.
Victory Call 
You challenge me today!
As a fashion “plate” of sorts, I have always loved dressing. I was, in fact, a fashion buyer in my earlier years.
Was “wired” to dress from the time I could walk !!! My favorite “toy” was a big hat box filled with baubles and
beads from an exclusive dress shop; the owner who was a good friend of my grandmother’s. would remove
buttons and bows from returned or damaged dresses and gave the ‘collection” to my grandmother for me.
Oh, how I loved dressing in those shiny bling things!!!
So – as you may have surmised, I have a closet full of clothes which I have collected over the years and with which
I rarely part. Enjoy wearing every item from time to time. Herein lies the difference for me between being G-d’s
girl and the world’s “show piece” — am I spending money for these things which should go for tithing or for family’s needs? Am I obsessing over “what to wear” almost on a daily basis? (We girls all ask ourselves this question from time to time!) Am I dressing to impress man or dressing to impress my Heavenly King and Abba?
Well, truth be told, dressing is simply a hobby of mine. Consignment shops are favorite “stomping grounds” and my daughters and sons like shopping this way as well. Salve’ Arme’ (Salvation Army) is our “designer store” !!!!
Thank you, Sister, once again for stretching my inner heart in order to reveal my inward intentions!
Fashion vs. Flaunting is a heart test which probably most should take from time to time. I certainly don’t dress to
“lure” men (G-d forbid!) but I do like looking very nice. A fine line exists within many of our secular decisions – every
inch of us and every spec of our lives should emulate G-d’s grace and His goodness.
Also, to “updress” – causing other women to feel inadequate who might be in the same room or at the same event, would be boastful, so that mind set needs to be kept in check, as well!
Blessings to you!
Stephanie Dickinson from Lancaster pA.
p.s. The L-rd convicted me to stop wearing slacks a long time ago. I do wear wide-leg pants and gauchos, but never
tighter-fitting pants. He DOES care what His girls wear !!!! (I guess that even rhymes !!)