The final way I want to share with you is by being convicted.
We need to be convicted in our lives to make wise decisions. We can give glory to God by our dress, by our speech, by what we choose to participate or not participate in. We learn from Proverbs chapter seven that a woman that dresses like a harlot, who is boisterous and rebellious, attracts young men that are lacking in sense. Why as women who are trying to glorify God would we want to attract such attention?
I Peter 3 persuades us to not let our adornment be merely outward – but the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. We are to be discreet (Titus 2:5) and modest (I Timothy 2:9).
We must honestly ask ourselves (and our husbands!) if these adjectives describe our current wardrobe. Men are attracted to the female form. If we’re showing ours off, purposely or not, we’re not being modest! Short shorts show off legs. Plain and simple. Tight or low blouses show off other things. Pants can also show off the bottom. (I don't know how to say that more politely!) I realize if you’ve been shopping in the last few years you know how difficult it is to find clothing for yourself and also for your young girls. But it can be done! Take someone with you – bend over, look in the mirror! Buy a camisole keep "the girls" covered!
Do you know that many men complain about the way women dress in the worship service? They have trouble serving communion due to the legs and cleavage they see. A woman said one time, after being approached about the way she was dressed, that the men just shouldn’t look! Ladies, it is our responsibility to dress modestly, and exposing our assets is definitely not being discreet and gentle.
We need to be convicted about our friends and the people we spend time with- I Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Philippians 1:27 – let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ
Are our friends influencing us to not be modest and discreet? Or are we influencing them towards better behavior? How about the religious friends we may work with – are we convicted enough in our faith that their beliefs aren’t altering the truth?
Ephesians 5:4 encourages us to not engage in foolish talking or coarse jesting. Most television shows and movies are full of this kind of “entertainment”. Ladies – entertainment is optional – we do not have to watch and we certainly do not have to repeat what we hear on these shows. Utilize tools we have to keep our minds pure.
While we’re discussing our speech – what about the bickering and gossip? Women are notorious for not getting along – I Samuel 1:6 “and her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable” … we cannot be nice sometimes. Do you come into the building and purposely avoid someone, sitting down with your arms crossed? If there is a problem, the scriptures are clear on how we can deal with it, by going to the source. There are so many scriptures on the love we should have for one another, and what will happen to us when we don’t have that love. We are not to be ones going off and telling tales about each other, but we should be bearing one another’s burdens, Galatians 6:2.
Our speech says so much about us – our attitudes towards our family, friends, the church and more. We need to flavor our speech with joy and happiness instead of negativity and foolish talk.
How about our Facebook accounts? On this social network, we can list our religion – and if we write “church of Christ” and then post pictures of ourselves with not many clothes on, or pictures from the prom or homecoming dances, or talk about our favorite movie that isn’t something a Christian should be watching, we have a problem. We can even use Facebook to bring glory to God and we need to be using it in that way.
Romans 12:12-14 “Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust.”
Fill your life and your heart with positive things. Keep your mind in the word and focused on God, be convicted in your faith and you will bring glory to Him!
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