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Hello Ladies!
Purity and Modesty – I won’t lie to you, these can be really difficult topics to broach. Many of us have “baggage” we bring to these conversations: why is it my fault if a man sins by looking at me? Shouldn’t I be able to dress the way I want? Isn’t my intention what matters?
I want us to take a step back and start with purity of heart. Purity of heart is first and foremost about completeness of attention and focus. Our hearts are pure when nothing distracts us from our love of God (even good things!). The pure of heart do not have ulterior motives. The pure heart loves what is good, what is true, and loves God most of all. They are singularly focused on the radiant goodness and love of God, without distraction. It’s a tall order – I know Magnify reveals a lot of my own distractions. I can’t yet say that I love God more than my husband and child, but I’m working on it.
So how does this connect to modesty? The way we present ourselves to the world is a reflection of our own priorities and ambitions. “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have,” right? The Bible calls us to reflect on our motives for adorning ourselves. Can I really say that I’m only concerned with God’s approval when I choose what I wear? If I’m honest, I know that if I put in the effort to look cute on a Sunday morning, I feel like I won if I receive a compliment. I like being noticed. I like the way I feel when I know the world thinks I am beautiful. I like feeling accepted and valued from my appearance. The thing is, all those things I like betray my divided attention – God’s approval alone isn’t good enough for me. Yet.
Modesty is an eminently practical virtue. You’ll find hundreds of guides and rules for achieving modesty. When I try to be modest, I first ask myself if my outfit is appropriate for the situation. Does it cover all my “parts,” and can I move in all the ways I could possibly move without having to worry about my clothes moving “out of place”? Am I making choices that harmonize with my natural beauty and dignity, or am I only making choices to draw attention? The Bible speaks of simplicity of dress, so that the person wearing the clothes becomes the focus. Does what I wear help people see me, the beloved daughter of God, or something else?
-Katelyn
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