Surprise Post!

I am so happy to share with  you a surprise post! 

Cheryl from Treasures From a Shoe Box has offered her thoughts on modesty for the Modest Mentors Series, and I am so honored! Cheryl has been a faithful reader,(and friend) for a few years and I'm delighted she is here to share in her wisdom!

The term Modesty has a broad definition these days. What does Modesty mean to you?

I believe modesty begins in the heart and involves much more than simply how I dress, but encompasses how I present myself through my behavior, the words I speak and my attitude, as well. Modesty means not being forward or showing off. It means to be pure in thought and in conduct. It is possible to be completely covered and still behave immodestly.   

Have you always dressed modestly? Why? (if not describe briefly what changed.)

I have not always dressed modestly. I was never much into name-brands or dressing fashionably, but I did wear tight jeans, shorts and inappropriate tops at times. I did not possess any sense of discretion, which landed me into some embarrassing situations. When I was thirty-two years old, during the darkest moment of my life I fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. The first Sunday I attended church, I borrowed a dress from my neighbor, because I didn't own one and felt that I should wear a dress. I soon began to reject everything that represented who I had been before coming to Christ; drugs and alcohol, foul language, cigarette smoking, rock and country music, and finally in the area of my dress.  Conviction was slow, but steady until eventually my husband and I both prayerfully decided that it would be best if I traded in my shorts and jeans for dresses and skirts. Dressing in this new way caused me to feel feminine and it truly impacted my behavior. I didn't know much about being "lady-like", but I had a sudden desire to learn.

How would you answer, "I can dress how I want because Jesus looks at my heart!"

I believe Jesus is very concerned with my heart, but what is in my heart will be demonstrated in the words I speak, my behavior and how I dress. As a child of God, I do not want to dress in a manner that would cause another person to have wrong thoughts. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says, "Whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Emphasis mine). WITH HER, not against her; giving the connotation that she bears some of the responsibility and has done something to cause him to lust.  In 1 Timothy 2:9, we are told that women are to "adorn themselves  with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly." I want to dress to please my Savior.

What do you think is the greatest challenge women face today when it comes to purity and virtue?

Purity and virtue are counter-cultural in our hedonistic society. High-profile role models dress provocatively and behave indecently on one end of the spectrum, while at the other end, there are precious few Titus 2 women who are willing to mentor the younger ladies who are raising the next generation of girls. It has become a downward spiral.   

 

Did you have a mentor? If not who was your greatest womanly influence?

My Pastor's wife was my first Christian woman mentor. There are a few precious older women in our small congregation, whom I consider "treasures" and several other women in our church who are great examples of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. We feel very blessed that the Lord put us in the midst of so many other Godly families.

Would you like to share any other wisdom with my readers?

A thought that has stuck with me that greatly impacted my thinking are words I heard soon after coming to Christ: If the world is going one way, followers of Christ should be going in the opposite direction. It seems women who dress modestly are like fish swimming upstream. It helps to remember Who we are dressing to please.

If you want to know what the Lord thinks about your manner of dress, just ask Him! Some helpful verses to aid your study:

1 Timothy 2:9

1 Peter 3:1-4

Matthew 5:28

1 Corinthians 6:19

Cheryl is an unashamed follower of Jesus Christ, wife to Terry for 24 years, mom to ten children (several of which are adults already!), grandma to two precious grandbabies, so far, and an occasional blogger. She blogs to give hope to those who are hurting, to exhort and encourage women in their high calling as wife and mother, and to bring glory to her Savior. You can read more about Cheryl at her blog, Treasures From a Shoebox.

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