by Live Original | Dec 1, 2022 | Life Advice
We are SO excited to be sharing an excerpt from our NEW Advent study, The Waiting & Wonder, available inside the LO sister app! We pray this encourages you and meets you where you’re at this holiday season!
Today’s Passage:
Luke 1:8-17
“Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him and angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.’“ (ESV)
Devo:
We tend to think of Zechariah’s encounter here as something miraculous in his everyday work. However, I don’t think that’s quite how it played out. Scripture tells us he’s in the order of Abijah which according to the Old testament is the 8th division out of 24. If each division served one week at a time, they would only serve twice a year. Out of the 2 times a year they may be on duty, only one man was chosen, and how many men were in each division after many generations had passed? I say all of this to say: it is very likely that this was a once in a lifetime experience for him to even be standing where he’s standing. The crowd is gathered outside because it is the time of incense. In the Bible, incense is symbolic of the prayers of God’s people. At this moment in time, without the blood of the Lamb, gathering outside the temple at this hour was essentially the closest in time and space they could get to God’s presence. This means that Zechariah is standing the closest to God’s presence he has possibly ever been. And what does the angel say? That the Lord has heard his prayer. Could this mean that even after all this time, despite all odds, that in this rare, one-in-a-lifetime moment of unhindered prayer the cry of Zechariah’s heart was still for a child? Even with the wildest chances, the timing could only be a work of God, and was believed to be the will of God as they viewed casting lots to determine his will. God had designed this moment from the beginning of time to bring the voice in the wilderness—John the Baptist—who would prepare the way for Immanuel—God with us. However, what’s equally true is that Zechariah is here because he’s spent a lifetime walking faithfully in the commandments and statutes of the Lord. His waiting wasn’t spent sitting—it was spent serving. Half of waiting is God’s good and perfect will, but the other half is our own refinement. God prepared the timing and divine appointment, but Zechariah had a heart prepared due to a lifetime of willing obedience.
Questions:
1). How are you spending your waiting? Sitting or serving?
2). Where in your life can you be obedient right now to the Lord? Where is he calling you to serve in your waiting?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your sovereignty. Thank you that you are working ALL things for the good of those who love you. God, we don’t understand it, can’t fathom it, and often don’t even see it. But God, help us to rest in the truth that you ARE working, you are renewing and bringing new beginnings every single day. And you’re bringing some forth right now as we pray this together. Would you give us eyes to see it Lord? Don’t let my waiting be wasted, God, but help us prepare our own hearts for the plans you are preparing. Would you reveal to us where we need to seek obedience? We love you, Lord. Amen.
Original content written by Hallie Dye for LO sister app.
by Live Original | Nov 29, 2022 | Life Advice, Motherhood
Do you ever feel so tired or overwhelmed by whatever is set before you? I get it, we all go though those seasons of life when all we have to do just feels so impossible to get done. In the times when we feel like we can’t possibly get it all done there is good news, we don’t have too. His grace is sufficient for us even when we are burnt out. Because it is in our weakness, our shortcoming and flaws that His strength is made perfect and we are reminded just how much we need our savior.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength Is made perfect in weakness.”- 2 corinthians 12:9
Most mornings my days start before the sun rises and my nights don’t end until the wee hours of the next morning. Having three children, three and under is my biggest blessing but it sure does lead to lack of sleep and some questionable stains on many of my clothing items. Motherhood is such an amazing gift and it sanctifies me and shows me on a daily basis what it means to die to my flesh and rely on his strength when mine is spent.
My time really isn’t my own and these days revolve around taking care those within my arms reach, while juggling all the other responsibilities my husband and I share.
Last week was one of those weeks when it felt like an uphill battle.The kids were all sick. All three of them from my oldest son to my three month old baby. My husband is in the height of a busy season for one of the business’s we own and has been having to work really long hours. Deadlines for my podcast and work for my ministry were due. The kids needed me to hold them and comfort them, so the dishes piled up and the laundry baskets overflowed. I spent the days sitting and rocking my sick babies all morning and into the late hours of the night.
The days felt long and in some fleeting moments it felt as if I would never rest again.The second my eyes would shut someone would need me. It was in those moments of pure exhaustion when I couldn’t slow down, even for a moment I was pushed to rely on his strength to renew me and his grace to sustain me.
I couldn’t heal my babies and take the sickness away. I could tend to them, make all the home made remedies I could find and give them all the snuggles but still I don’t have the power to heal them. Only He does and only he can.
I could wash scrub every last dish in the sink, wipe down the counters till they shine, wash and fold the laundry but I couldn’t bring peace and grace into my home, only Jesus can change the atmosphere of a home to be peace filled. Only he can.
I could support my husband in his our business, crush all the deadlines I have for my work and yet still not be complete. Only he can satisfy and turn the work I do into good work that truly matters for His glory.
I am not sure what is causing you to feel burnt out, exhausted or is on your mile long to do list. It is my hope that through these words you are reminded to lay everything you have to do and that is weighing on you at His feet, trusting in full confidence he will carry you through with a peace this world does not understand. Whatever it is weighing on you please remember three key things:
- When you do it in your own strength it is empty with no kingdom value.
- His grace is sufficient for you even when you’re weary
- He will renewal your strength.
All throughout scripture we are shown how God is our faithful and our steadfast place of refuge. That he is near to us, working all things together for good and active in our lives. We see how he sticks closer than a friend and he renews our strength. One of my favorite verses is:
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.- Isaiah 40:31
The bible is not just a bunch of verses that sound nice but It the living word of God, it is truth to build our live upon. We can confidently know and trust that’s what written in scripture is true and what we can rely on. If we want to understand the will of God we must be reading the word of God. In reading the word of God we can see just how near to us he really is and how we are called to rely on him.
We are never promised an easy life, in fact we are told in this life we will have many troubles but to take heart, and we will have peace because he has overcome it (John 16:33). That peace and confidence trust is ours to hold fast to in all time. Even in the times when we are troubled. Troubled by what is before us and weary form lack of rest. When the task set before us seem like the impossible and that energy we need to muster up can not be found we can hold fast to him.
We can trust that the word of God stands true and that he will give us the grace and strength to renew us so that when we run the race he is calling us to we won’t grow faint and weary. We can cling to his truth and rely on him to be what gets us through.
No matter the task, no matter the day or responsibility that is put before us we can do the impossible with him alone for with Christ we can do all things (Philippians 4:13) . Just because what we have to do feels hard and heavy does not mean it is bad for whatever we do for the glory of God is good and a chance to serve him.
Each season you walk through that pushes you to your brink is what can push you to lean into him more and more. These days and moments of weakness is when his strength is made perfect and causing you to rely on him alone. Let him be where you run, let him be the energy that fills you and the place that renews you.
So friend, I hope you know and are able to remember in these day when you feel so exhausted, pushed beyond your limits and unsure how to keep going that his grace is washing over you, his strength is your renewal and that he is beside you comforting you in it all.
God’s got you friend, hold fast to him.
Gabrielle is a wife, mama of three under 3, podcast host, cancer survivor and writer. She loves spending her days with a warm cup of tea, caring for her children, and writing what God puts on her heart. She hosts The Inspiring Honey Show podcast and runs The Inspiring Honey ministry with the mission to equip and inspire women to live inspired by Gods truth alone.
by Live Original | Nov 22, 2022 | Life Advice
“Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord,
For he is good;
His love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1
In the midst of the storm,
Give thanks.
For His abundant provision…
The beauty that surrounds,
New mercies every morn,
Bread sent from heaven,
An endless well of living water,
The daily miracle of breath,
and conquering light,
Give thanks.
Knowing:
The rains will fall,
The wind will blow,
You will have trouble in this world,
but
Give thanks.
Knowing:
He makes the rain.
He is the source of the wind.
He has overcome the world.
So, despite every earthside circumstance,
Praise His name;
for it is hallowed and
you are a citizen of Heaven.
Give thanks.
Trusting:
He is a God who gives what you need–
When,
exactly when
it is needed.
He is a God who gives you more than you could ever earn and
so much more than you deserve
because
He is
Good.
When you cry out, when you are silent,
When you draw near, when you wander far,
God blesses your soul with every good and perfect gift,
He works all things together.
When you can no longer carry your burdens,
When you are so weary it is hard to breathe,
lay it all down at His feet.
He will take your ashes and straighten your crown.
Go to Him.
He will lead you to quiet waters and green pastures,
There, beneath the shelter of His wings, in the fortress of His protection,
be still and know:
Each breath is a reminder that His power resides within you.
You can trust the rhythm of His every step and be assured
that with each Spirit led step:
you are being renewed, refined, and transformed.
Give thanks.
For all that God is:
Steadfast,
Faithful,
Loving,
All-knowing,
Ever-watching,
Unstoppable,
Good,
and the One who holds all things together.
Give thanks.
For all that Jesus did:
Humbled himself.
Stepped down from a heavenly throne
to take on flesh.
Flesh that would be doubted, derided, betrayed,
accused, condemned, tormented, stripped, and
nailed.
Not for anything He did, but for all that we do.
Give thanks.
For a King who came to serve,
to heal, to teach,
and to give life.
Give thanks,
for a Savior who in His last pain-filled breath,
Exhaled perfect love: “Father please forgive them.”
Give thanks,
for a Savior who did not save Himself so that
death would be denied and
you would be redeemed.
Give thanks,
for Jesus who calls you worthy and chose to suffer on
your behalf.
Give thanks,
your debt has been paid in full.
Give thanks.
For the gift of His Spirit
With all His power and authority.
A Spirit that guides,
Protects,
Convicts, and
Equips you to
Be salt and light so that
image bearer is the fragrance of your life;
Give thanks in the fullness of Truth:
We are entitled to nothing;
yet, given everything.
So let your heart overflow with gratitude for all you have been given.
Let a spirit of humble thankfulness take you captive…
So that every thought,
Every word,
Every action,
Glorifies God.
Be captivated by the amazing depth of God’s grace.
Be captivated by the beauty of JESUS
because through Him, although you are poor in spirit,
surrendered obedience gives rise to
the unconquerable strength of His Spirit.
A spirit of of gratitude,
A spirit of meekness:
Not me,
But HE.
Give thanks
for the life you have been empowered to live:
I am an image bearer, not a curator of my own perfect image.
I am a disciple-maker, not an audience chaser.
I am a steward of His creation,
a receiver of His provision,
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, His masterpiece;
Yet, in desperate need of Jesus’s righteousness.
A light that lives to glorify Him.
Give thanks.
He chose you.
He loves you.
Give thanks.
For a God of exceedingly;
knowing,
trusting,
that He is your hope and one that cannot be shaken;
He is the joy that sustains you in the deepest of valleys and
humbles you on every mountaintop.
He is the God who makes a way when there is no way,
The God who shuts the mouths of lions,
Walks you through a fire, unscathed,
The God who divides the sea,
Breathes life into dry bones,
And rains down manna from Heaven.
Give thanks,
His yoke is easy:
Ask and trust His answer: you are being transformed from poor in spirit to pure in heart.
Seek and you will find: a God whose righteousness pursues you relentlessly.
Knock and the door will be opened.
Give thanks:
because when the rains fall,
and the winds blow,
when trouble comes,
your life is built upon solid rock.
This season, and in every season,
Give thanks, be filled to overflow with gratitude because
you serve a God delights in you.
His every promise is true.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
Let us be thankful,
And so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
For our ‘God is a consuming fire’.”
Hebrews 12:28-29
Carol Bevil is a Christian author and speaker. She is the founder of Fuel Your Body, Feed Your Soul, LLC: an Instagram ministry and blog dedicated to the truth found in Romans 12:2 and Matthew 6:33. She has authored three books: You Are His: 21 Day Devotional ; Break Through: 6 Weeks to Demolish Diet Culture Strongholds, and her new release, Caught Up in Hope: a 40 day devotional journey to exhale at the feet of Jesus. Carol is passionate about knowing Jesus better so that her life makes Him known. She surrendered her life to Christ at the age of forty having been raised in a Jewish home. Her writing has been featured in several publications and she serves as an ambassador for Sadie Robertson Huff’s ministry: LO sister. Currently, Carol lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband Chris of 24 years and their four children surrounded by piles of laundry and a kitchen full of good things.
by Live Original | Nov 17, 2022 | Life Advice |
Note from Team LO: We are SO excited to bring you this month’s post from our LO sister member, Maggie Castonguay! If you want to be a part of this incredible community, you can join today for FREE! Find out more about this online sisterhood HERE. And for more info about what LO sister is all about, visit our Instagram Page!
Now, enjoy today’s post from Maggie 🙂
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Endurance training.
As a sprinter on the track team, I dreaded hearing those words. Long-distance running is not my strong suit, which meant I dreaded hill repeats. Up and down the steep hill for the 4th time, 5th time, 6th time – I was exhausted, worn out, and cranky. I thought, “I am a sprinter – is this even necessary? I am practicing by slowly running up a hill and I am supposed to run fast on a track. This workout doesn’t make any sense in how this will help me. Wouldn’t it be better if I went to the track and just ran 100 meters?”
This mindset caused me to focus solely on the pain shooting through my legs, the tightness of my chest, my difficulty breathing, the feeling of being sick, and the urge to quit right then and there. I began to run up the hill slower, stop at the top longer, and not push myself as hard. I began to give up. “I don’t run long distances anyway. I don’t need this workout.” I failed to recognize the purpose of this workout. It was meant to prepare me to run my race better and faster. I was building endurance to reach my potential and see the results I wanted at the end of the race. I needed this, but I was pushed out of my comfort zone. I was forced to do something hard. I didn’t want this workout, I didn’t ask for it – which caused me to believe that I didn’t need it and I couldn’t do it.
I didn’t want hard – I wanted easy.
I didn’t want to be pushed out of my comfort zone – I wanted what was known and familiar to me.
I didn’t want to feel pain – sickness – and difficulty breathing – I wanted to feel good and comfortable.
I started to believe these lies because I wasn’t focused on the end goal – which was the race set before me in the future meet. I saw my circumstance for what it was in the moment- doubt in my ability to continue through something extremely hard physically and mentally. Had I focused on the future race, I would have looked at this strenuous workout differently.
How often are you faced with a trial that causes you to say, “I don’t see a purpose for this.”
How often are you in a season of suffering where you say, “I didn’t ask for this.”
How often does it seem like you are all alone in your temptation which makes you say, “I can’t do this any longer.”
Friend, these are all lies from the enemy. We have allowed the enemy to penetrate our minds with lies and shift our focus off our end goal – eternal life with our Father in Heaven. He has shifted our focus from hope in the everlasting to doubt, fear, complacency, and pain in the temporary.
James 1:2 says this, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (NIV) This verse does not say if you face trials, it says when you face trials. We will face trials, suffering, and temptations during our lives here on earth.
James wrote in his letter that we should “consider it pure joy” when we face trials. This is because our joy is not dependent on our situation. As Christians, we have hope in the salvation of Jesus Christ. This allows us to have joy amid our suffering. No matter our current situation we can have joy, peace, hope, and comfort. This life is but a blur compared to the life we have ahead of us in heaven. This life is temporary – which means our suffering is temporary as well.
Hebrews 12:1-3 says this, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (NIV)
Jesus knows how we feel. He, too, went through trials, suffering, and temptations while He was on earth. Think about the power behind this statement – Jesus endured the cross for YOU.
He could endure the pain, shame, humiliation, and death that came with being crucified on the cross because He was focused on the end goal. He was focused on the joy set before Him.
What if He didn’t?
What if He did what I was so tempted to do – and did do – during my track workout? He began to feel pain and said “I didn’t want this. I didn’t ask for this. I can’t do this. I don’t need this.”
He would be right.
He didn’t ask to be crucified on the cross. Guess what, He doesn’t even need us. So why did He endure the cross? Because He wants us. He chose us. The joy of heaven that set before Him allowed Him to endure the sufferings He went through.
James 1:12 says this, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (NIV) Friend, the joy that set before Jesus – it sets before you too.
This is why endurance is so important. This is why it is so important to not give up and to not grow weary in our sufferings here on earth. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can endure the trials and tribulations that come with living in a fallen world. Navigating trials and temptations without God’s help will leave us broken and weary. Remember to seek God’s help and guidance to resist and endure the trials and temptations before us.
Romans 5:3-4 says this, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NIV) God can use your sufferings and He will not waste it. Pray and ask God to reveal how you can glorify Him amid suffering. By doing so, you will be able to endure it and you will grow stronger because of it.
We can rejoice in God’s glory and our temporary suffering because we know that suffering goes on to produce endurance for the race He has set before us. The lane in which we run the race that God set before us is unique. However, the race given to each Christian is the same – to spread the gospel to the whole world. We cannot do this without relying on God’s strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I needed the endurance to be able to run the race set before me in track – and this took hard work, discipline, and dedication. How much more should we work hard and be disciplined in our walk with the Lord? When trials and suffering come, what is already inside of you will be what shines through you in difficult times.
Our current suffering will never compare to the hope that is to come. It is hard while you are in the midst of it and I am not discrediting that at all. This life is hard. There will be times when we don’t understand what’s going on in our lives and the lives of others. But friend, the reward of endurance is great. We cannot even comprehend the joy that sets before us. Revelation 21:4 says this, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (NIV) When you are amid trials, sufferings, and pain, just know that there will be a day when you are standing in front of the Father in heaven and He will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” He will wipe away your tears and at that moment it will all be worth it. We just have to keep going. We got this. Don’t give up and don’t grow weary. You got this and you are not alone. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV)
by Juli Bevere | Nov 15, 2022 | Life Advice
No one is as smugly confident as the sibling of a child who is being disciplined by their parent. If you have kids of your own, you’ve seen this for sure. If you don’t, maybe you’ve watched this dynamic play out in nephews and nieces, or perhaps you remember what it felt like in your own childhood.
There is usually a specific look on the face of the innocent child, a mixture of genuine pity and barely concealed satisfaction, like they know they shouldn’t be happy their sibling was caught, but at the same time justice is sweet. At least, it is when it happens to the other guy.
While gloating isn’t the ideal reaction to justice, confidence is a natural result of knowing that you’ve done nothing wrong. If you are innocent, you know you don’t have to live in fear of punishment. Proverbs 28 describes it this way: “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (v. 1). Others might be scrambling to cover their tracks or to justify their actions, but you don’t need to. You have nothing to fear and nothing to hide.
There are two potential problems with this innocence-equals-confidence connection though. First, we live in a broken world where justice is not always carried out properly. There is no absolute guarantee that our innocence will be upheld. Sometimes we are falsely accused or unjustly treated. This is the exception though. And even when it happens, at least we have a clear conscience before God and ourselves, which should count for a lot. The second problem is more common: we are rarely innocent. At least, not completely. Maybe we do what’s right in one area, but we mess up in two other areas. This is a real problem because, since we are painfully aware of our imperfection, we can never feel completely confident.
This is where our righteousness in Christ makes all the difference. We can’t stand confidently and boldly on our own righteousness, but we can stand on his righteousness. God’s declaration that we are holy, righteous, and innocent in Christ infuses us with true confidence. That is why the writer of Hebrews reminded us to “hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory” (3:6).
We already know that this righteousness doesn’t give us a license to sin freely. The reason sin is sin is because it hurts people, whether the sinner or those around them—and that’s why God’s love won’t tolerate it. But if we do sin, we don’t have to run and hide. We aren’t in danger of being kicked out of God’s family or rejected by heaven. Our belonging is found and secured in Jesus.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:15–16)
The “high priest” here is Jesus, of course. The writer of Hebrews was saying that Jesus knows our weaknesses because he walked the same planet we do. He is in heaven right now, listening to our prayers. So when we come before God in our time of need, we are met with mercy and grace, not judgment or rejection.
We want to leave you with this final thought: our boldness to come before God should be reflected in our boldness in life. Spiritual confidence will produce natural confidence, if we let it. This isn’t about arrogance or a better-than-thou attitude that religion can too easily breed. Rather, it’s the quiet confidence that comes from knowing our past, present, and future are in God’s hands, and they are safe there.
Julianna Bevere is a co-founder of SonsAndDaughters.tv and she desires to see the sons and daughters of God rise to their potential so that their impact reverberates long after their final breath. Julianna is deeply in love with her husband, Addison, and together they have four adorable offspring—Asher (12), Sophia (10), Elizabeth (7), and Augustus (5). Julianna and her family live in Colorado Springs, but she’ll always be a Texan at heart.
by Anna Grace Birley | Nov 10, 2022 | Homepage, Life Advice |
Christian modesty is a holistic, kingdom mindset and heart posture. It is not a look. It is not a capsule wardrobe full of turtlenecks and athletic maxi skirts. I have written about modesty before, and my friend captured my definition of Christian modestly beautifully. He said, “Modesty enables Christians to be the loudest about the things that have eternal value” (Birley, 2021). My heart behind this message is not to meet you with shame, judgement, or condemnation but to share how walking a life with Jesus is full of His abundance and His confidence. His way is better [Isaiah 55:8-9].
God heavily placed it on my heart around two years ago to talk about modesty. I was hearing about how dark the gym felt on my college campus, and the Lord prompted me to go to the gym and pray while I worked out, rather than listen to music. The darkness was tangible. It is vital to our generation to recognize that the world and our God do not share the same definition of authenticity, love, and empowerment. The world will tell you it’s empowering, authentic, and loving to yourself to flaunt yourself in inappropriate dress and to own your body. God literally says the opposite. Our body is not ours [Isaiah 64:8] and what is truly empowering, authentic, and loving to yourself is to remain in Jesus, because Jesus promises He will remain in us in return. The world is self focused. God has taught me self focus fertilizes fear. God is kingdom focused. God is God focused.
Christian modesty is a holistic, kingdom mindset and heart posture; so it’s an outward appearance that should reflect Christ. This won’t happen until there is an inward shift in our minds and hearts. So how will that inward shift occur because 1 Samuel 16:7 says the LORD looks at the heart. Romans 8:5-8 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
It is by the Spirit of God, not by will power, that your heart will change. You will not begin to care about the things of God [His delight is found in our obedience and an awe inspired worship – Psalm 147:10-11] until you’re in the Word of God.
I recently heard a quote by the man who is responsible for putting bibles in hotel rooms – how sick is that! He said, “The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents” (The Gideons International, 2011).
Let’s define immodesty with an Elisabeth Elliot quote because who else would I quote: “Modesty means to be free from undue familiarity, from indecency, from lewdness, pure in thought and conduct. Speaking of modest apparel, it means decent, seemly. The opposite of modesty is conceit, boldness, immodesty, brazenness, lewdness” (Elliot, 1984). Okay now let’s define lewdness and brazenness because I sure didn’t know what those meant. Lewdness means involving sexual conduct that is considered indecent or offensive and brazenness is a behavior in which someone does something in an obvious way, without trying to hide it. Y’all, it takes humility to dress modestly!
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I want to let you in on my journey with getting this idea of Christian modesty into my head and my heart. My freshman year of college I was coming in with the knowledge that my school had a dress code. My expectation was they would have some ridiculous modesty talk about why we have it and how I would not be able to personally ‘express myself.’ Well, it wasn’t my fault guys were weird! My RA surprised me with an explanation that changed everything for me.
She shared how our brothers in Christ would one day be married to one of our sisters in Christ. Why would we ever want to get in the way of their journey of purity? A life of purity is hard enough in it of itself; adding deliberate immodest dressing is unnecessary.
Immodest dressing is not honoring to them. & guess what? It’s not about us, it’s about building the kingdom and honoring our brothers and sisters in Christ. We do not belong to the world or to ourselves, but we belong to the most beautiful Father Who knows best.
We should not be known by worldly standards. To quote my friend, “When I see a girl who is not dressed appropriately, I believe that this shows that she may not know her value as it pertains to being a daughter of the most high King. I feel like it is their way of receiving attention and in turn affirmation for something other than their personality and who they are as a person” (Birley, 2021).
The comment I continue to get when people know I am passionate about modesty is, “it’s not just for girls, guys have to be modest too!” Nancy DeMoss puts it plainly: “This isn’t to suggest that men aren’t responsible for their thought life or their behavior. They are. And they have to learn how to walk with God and bring those thoughts under the control of Christ, even though they live in a culture where immodesty is rampant. However, as Christian women, our clothing choices can either help men succeed morally or can put temptation in their path that they may find difficult to overcome. That means both men and women are responsible for moral purity!” Then she shares this sick equation: “What we wear + How we look = A picture of what we believe” (DeMoss, 2003).
Our entire demeanor should reflect who He is, who we are in Him. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in The Passion Translation says, “And that the women would also pray with clean hearts, dressed appropriately, and adorned modestly and sensibly, not flaunting their wealth. But they should be recognized instead by their beautiful deeds of kindness, suitable as one who worships God.” To quote my friend, “As Christians, if we declare that we’re living for Jesus, that declaration should impact the Christian’s life holistically” (Birley, 2021).
So how do we practically go about this? I think it’s stunning how many times the Word of God talks about how we are to clothe ourselves and how we are fashioned and formed by God. Colossians 3:12-14 says, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience … Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” I think a root that breathes life into someone wanting to dress immodestly is fear of man. 1 John 4:18 says that perfect love cast out fear & Paul just told us to above all else clothe ourselves with love.
I think this is an awesome spot to address 1 Peter 3 where he talks about where our beauty should come from: “not come from outward adornment, such as … fine clothes.” Y’all, I love clothes. I love getting dressed for the day, and I love helping my friends do the same. The Word isn’t telling me I cannot care about getting dressed and investing in timeless, “fine” pieces. What it is telling me is that when I am going about my day am I looking for heads to turn to look at my outfit, or in this topic’s case, every outline of my body? Or am I looking to have my identity in Christ precede me in everything I do? I woke up with breath in my lungs today because God wants me to receive His love and then send it out to a dark world. I once heard immodesty defined as oversexualized persuasion … it sure made me dislike the word persuasion. I would rather “persuade” someone to choose Jesus, choose joy, choose freedom.
Seeing every outline of your body is not the ultimate “dang she looks good.” The ultimate “dang she looks good” should be being known by our fruit. My friend gave me a collage that had Romans 13:14 on it. She was telling me how she thought it was so fun how much I loved picking out my outfit everyday. She said put this up where you get dressed each day so that way you can literally pray, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” So as I get dressed in the morning I am not clothing myself in the mindset of vanity and look at me but in the mind of Jesus!
We are called to be set apart! 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” To quote my friend, “I think modesty shows thought and care for others. It’s not something to think I’m holier or better than somebody but rather I value others” (Birley, 2021). I love this quote so much. It is also loving to assume the best in your brothers and sisters in Christ. Their path of modesty may look different than yours. Sanctification doesn’t happen overnight. It is walking in step daily with the Spirit [Galatians 5:16].
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” We were a terrible and trash investment, but Jesus went all in. It’s not about you. It’s about the kingdom.
It is loving to your past, present, and future self to dress modestly. It is loving to your brothers and sisters too. At the end of the day the question to ask ourselves is, “God, what did you think about that [my outfit, that interaction, that thought, that speech, that comment]?” & girls let’s be honest here! You will attract a guy’s attention at the gym or on a hot girl walk or in class or running to Trader Joe’s in an outfit where you can see every outline of your body. But what kind of guy do you think you’re attracting here? Your body is so temporary! Wouldn’t you rather attract a guy who would be attracted to the Holy Spirit inside of you? Something that is oh so lasting, praise the LORD! What a pure and beautiful way to be pursued. I’ll end with a quote from the Jonas Brothers, “I can’t get your smile out of my mind. I think about your eyes all the time. You’re beautiful but you don’t even try. Modesty is just so hard to find.”
If this blog intrigued you and you want to dive in deeper, learn how to dress in any kind of style but do so modestly, or just love fashion in general please join the LO SISTER APP. Keep an eye out for content to come! I’m really excited about it – think style tips and recreating looks … eep!
References
Birley, A. G. C. (2021, May 27). Modesty. AG The Look. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.agthelook.com/blog/modesty
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh. The Look – Does God Really Care What I Wear? Buchanan: Revive Our Hearts, 2003.
Elliot, E. (1984) Elisabeth Elliot Quotes about modesty: A-Z quotes. A-Z Quotes. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.azquotes.com/author/17940-Elisabeth_Elliot/tag/modesty
The Gideons International. (2011, May 18). An inspiring introduction to the holy book. The Gideons International. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from http://blog.gideons.org/2010/12/the-bible-contains-the-mind-of-god/
Anna Grace is a member of Team LO & a recent graduate of Liberty University. She is a massive Atlanta Braves fan [her hometown, ayo!], uses the phrase ‘that’s punk rock’ frequently in the office, & is a stylist where she takes things you already own and creates new outfits.
