More Than Rules: Exploring the Heart of Beauty & Modesty

Today we have a post by Bambi:

 

I first noticed it when my oldest daughter Shelbi was about eighteen-months-old. If I changed her clothes into something pink and frilly, her face changed. She would make her way over to the mirror. I would say, “Pretty!” She would clap her hands, thoroughly enjoying the reflection she saw staring back at her.

From the earliest of ages women learn to enjoy clothes. Not for their created purpose (covering), but for the pleasure they give us in adorning ourselves.

The wardrobe of a woman is no small matter. The clothing we wear is among the boldest statements we make because others cannot help but see our clothing. So whether intentional or unintentional, everyone notices whether we appear sloppy or neat, seductive or pure, plain or glamorous. It’s all laid out there for everyone else to see, like it or not.

Our lives make public announcements. A Christian woman’s clothing should make an announcement of “good works professing godliness”, not “pride” or “sex.” But why? The function of a Christian’s good works is to glorify God.

Consider Matthew 5:16:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

It is self that drives us to steal glory that belongs to God alone, no matter the tactic. It is self that makes us desire the focus and attention of others, to want their admiration and praise for clever wit, high social standing or clothing that is too expensive, too tight, too short or overall improper. Incidentally, clothing that screams, “Just look at me! I’m more spiritual than you because I’m dressed in a jumper two sizes too big!” is also immodesty because it seeks to attract attention.

"The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High."

~ Charles Spurgeon

The Grace We Depend On

I am not a woman who daily achieves the perfect balance of modest speech, demeanor and dress simultaneously. I’m thankful for Christ’s righteousness that ultimately clothes me because I frequently fail in one or more of these areas. However, the admission that women, all women, struggle with the inner discipline to resist the risings of vanity and pride is no reason to throw up our hands in defeat and sweep this topic under the carpet.

Dr. Martin Lloyd- Jones said that if the “grace” we have received does not help us to keep God’s laws, then we have not really received grace.

By His grace, holiness and spiritual maturity can (and must) be pursued with all diligence (Hebrews 12:14) and spiritual transformation will work its way outward from the redeemed soul reflecting in our attire.

Excerpt taken from the new ebook More Than Rules. (Chapter 10, Read Any Good Looks Lately?)

More Than Rules

Today I launched my new ebook More Than Rules: Exploring the Heart of Beauty and Modesty. My desire is to bring honor to the Lord and encourage you to find your identity in Christ alone.

For many of us, we easily fall into the trap of pursuing an outward, temporal beauty rather than cultivating the inner beauty that never fades. We find ourselves jealous of other women who are prettier than us or have nicer clothing, because we sinfully crave the approval or attention they receive.

The topic of beauty and the distortions of it, naturally leads to our choices for outward adornment. Do our choices glorify God?

While you will not find any rules in this book, such as where the hemline should fall, I pray that you will be encouraged to stand firm in your own convictions, and seek to honor God and love your neighbor in the way you dress.

The Table of Contents

Introduction {Read it here for free}

In Which I Go to the Salon for Some Detailing

Why We Are Preoccupied with Physical Beauty Motivations of the Heart {and Is it Wrong to Enhance the Appearance}

Imperishable Beauty

When You Are Not Your Own

More Than Bikinis and Burqas

Wanton Eyes, Outstretched Necks and the Demeanor of the Christian Woman

Captives to Lust

Modest Dress {What it is and Eight Reasons Why We Don't Want to Talk About It}

Read Any Good Looks Lately?

Introducing Six Immodestly Dressed Women

What a Christian Woman Should Wear

Giving Grace and Six Reasons Why Outward Adornment Should be in Moderation

On Making Rules {Sniff, Sniff. Do I Smell a Legalist?}

The Immodesty of Modesty {and Other Warnings}

Today only you can get More Than Rules for $1.99 in pdf form

Or get it on Amazon Kindle for $2.99

This is an introductory price--tomorrow it will be $4.99.

-A simultaneous Saint and sinner, Bambi was saved by grace through faith. She’s a helpmeet to her high school sweetheart and together they are sharpening eight arrows for the glory of God. Bambi spends her days homeschooling, cleaning up messes (external and internal), changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, reading books, and a million other duties she wouldn’t trade for the world. Bambi loves being a keeper at home and shares about her journey of grace in marriage, motherhood and family discipleship on her blog In the Nursery of the Nation. She is passionate about encouraging younger women to depend on Christ alone for their salvation, sanctification and to depend on His Word for the strength and wisdom required for marriage and motherhood.