I heard my entire life that modest is hottest. And I am realizing now that I believed a lie for basically the entire amount of time that I have heard that statement.
Modest isn’t hottest. Scandalous (however you might view that) is hotter. The girls who make a decision to wear clothes that don’t cover their bodies will likely get more attention than you will when you wear clothes that honor the God you serve. Sometimes, modesty goes against the popular decision. Modesty might be a decision that you make on the World Race. Modesty might be a decision that you make in your high school, in your church or even in your home.
The Lord is teaching me that modesty is a matter of the heart.
Confession: I hold some pretty strong views on modesty.
If you have been around me, you might not notice that right away. Modesty isn’t something that I have ever spoken to any group of people of any size in my life. Modesty for me is not something that I advertise to the world. Modesty is a personal choice of mine.
I go back to high school, where I would be attending a group event and we almost always had a dress code. “You must wear a full piece bathing suit. You can’t wear shorts that don’t reach your finger tips.” I remember the struggle of finding shorts that were seemingly long enough. I remember having to look at the clothes I was bringing just to make sure that they met the code of which I had to follow.
Fast forward to post college. I had spent most of my life with some sort of dress code that I had to follow. I subconsciously chose the things that I knew would follow the rules because I didn’t want to get in trouble. Then, as I got out college, I began to realize that someone wasn’t telling me what to wear. I would look to see if someone even cared and I realized they didn’t. I started to wear things I told myself that I never would. I started to change because of the expectations of my society around me.
So when Jesus started to tell me that I needed to be more conscious of how I dressed, while on the World Race, I was confused. I had to take the matter of how I put together outfits (which on my race is quickly becoming “What is the most clean?”) into a place where I could let Jesus make that decision for me. I had to consider the fact that Jesus didn’t write me a dress code for the rest of my life, but gave me the freedom to choose what I would do.
Through a significant amount of prayer, I have made the decision for myself that I would dress differently. I have made the decision that what I have allowed myself to fall into the trap that how I dress doesn’t affect my relationship with the Lord. I have made the decision that I want to honor God with ALL of my decisions, and what I wear is one of them. I want to honor the man that the Lord gives to me as a husband. I want to make sure that my Christian brothers don’t stumble when I am around. I want to make sure that the decisions I make honor the fact that my brothers are simply human beings who want to honor Jesus. And the way I dress affects that.
I thought I would let you in on some thoughts swarming around in my little mind. Jesus is doing incredible things in my heart.
Until He comes,
Kristy
P.S. Fundraising Update: Friends, I am blown away from your support. I am currently at $11,001 which leaves me with just $5250 to get. I would love to partner with you to continue to be a part of God’s story around the world. Click on the link to the left that says SUPPORT ME if you would like to support me financially or partner with me again. I am so thankful for the most incredible support team in the world!
****written in Peru. Posted later!
