Modestly speaking (My journey into modesty)Part One...

The Beginning

Years ago I stumbled upon a few sites about dressing modestly. As I read through the many sites and blogs something within me stirred and throughout the years the modesty topic would tug at my heart. This year the conviction was so strong regarding what I was wearing and what my girls were wearing.

God had opened my eyes. I started to take notice at what other women, teenagers, and young girls were wearing and what was becoming available for them in the stores. I was disgusted! They were donning jeans so tight they were like second skin and left very little to the imagination. Skirts and shorts so short I often wondered how they bent over without showing themselves. Shirts...that you literally could see everything and dresses that were just as short as the shirts.

I often thought about the parents. Why are young women and little girls aloud to wear such things? Better yet, why are the mother's wearing such things??

I started reading about modesty once again a few months back. I prayed on it for several nights about what my daughters and I had hung up in our closets and stuffed in our dresser drawers. I wanted to talk to my husband about it, but I didn't know what his reaction would be. Would he still find me attractive if I gave up my jeans and shorts and started to dress more modestly? Or would he think I was crazy?

A few weeks later, my husband asked if we could talk. He wanted to talk about me and the girls dressing more modestly. He thought it more appropriate that we no longer wear jeans, pants, or shorts. That we should dress more modestly according to God's word. That also meant no revealing shirts or clingy attire that would draw attention to any areas of the body that was inappropriate for anyone that was not our husband to see. Inside I was stunned and excited all at the same time. What a confirmation!!

What does the bible say about modesty and how a woman should dress?

1 Corinthians 12:23 says, "And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty"(I think we all understand what our "unpresentable parts" are)

Also, 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, " In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." Modest apparel means a loose flowing gown. Are you "a woman professing godliness" if your wearing a mini skirt or a low cut shirt or how about jeans that are so tight you can see your panty line?

Why not just wear looser fitting jeans? Because in Deuteronomy 22:5 says, "A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this."
I think this verse was clearly written. Men wear pants. Women ought not to. If it were the other way around, our public restroom signs would show a person in pants for both the women's and men's restroom.

But perhaps the most important reason to dress modestly is shown here in Matthew 5:27-28 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." We should not cause one of our brothers to fall in sin and that's exactly what will happen if you or I walk around scantily clothed.

So, how long should a skirt or dress be in order to be considered modest? Well, the bible says nakedness is uncovered loins (waist and thigh areas Exodus 28:42).


Now that I knew the "why" of modesty, it was time to implement it.....

~See modestly speaking (My journey into modesty) Part Two~