Precious and Priceless

In today's society our value is treated like a commodity, increasing or decreasing in importance based on trends, careers, wealth and social status...

From the very beginning God really placed on my heart the desire to show people how valuable they are to him through this blog...

So over 5 weeks, every Wednesday I'll be posting a new post on Value. I pray that you would be reminded of how important and valuable you are to God. You are so loved by him for just the way you are.

This is Part 3.

After writing 'Clothing yourself in his glory', I thought I'd said what needed to be said and that would be it. But God kept putting on my heart that I needed to revisit the topic of modesty and clothing again. So this is for the girls, you are so precious and valuable to God and I pray that this helps you to see that.

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
Colossians 3:2

There are a few things we need to realize as girls. We need to understand that we live in a consumer society and as much as we can seek to not be impacted by the world -we will be influenced by it if we are not intentional.

We also need to understand that even though the Holy Spirit lives in us, 'the flesh' can easily take us captive if we allow it. That is why as it says in the Bible (verse above) we need to keep focused 'habitually' on heavenly things and one of the best ways we can do that is by the clothes we wear.

Instead of treating 'modesty' as just for 'everyone else's benefit', we need to turn the focus on us girls for a second. If you are anything like me -you love a good bargain, you love working out how much you can get with what you have to offer and you seriously consider 'cost per wear'.

Well, as much as there is nothing wrong with this mentality, the world has used this perspective as to convince women that they are being 'business-wise' by dressing provocatively and offering sex as a 'bargaining tool'. THIS IS A LIE!

In the same way the more you wear something, the more the 'cost per wear' goes down. The more you decide 'you can be worn', the more you are reducing your PRECIOUS VALUE!!! This isn't just about sex, this is about you 'selling yourself' by the clothes you wear!

I don’t care if you are single -girl you are NOT on the market- so stop trading yourself for things that aren't remotely equal in value!!!!

'She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.'
Proverbs 3:15

 

'An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.'
Proverbs 31:10

We are the Bride of Christ, we are a precious gift and we were brought at a price!! Now it's NOT our job to follow a set of rules or cover ourselves head to toe, our job as daughters of the Most High is to make sure 'the gift' is wrapped and presented beautifully!

Just like you don’t put the inside of the gift on display -even on special occasions (hellloo), let's not put our bodies on display!!! And you know what God gives us free choice on? -what beautiful wrapping paper and ribbon we use to present the gift!!!

And I'm sure you know as women that you don't wrap an expensive/priceless gift in a cheap plastic bag!!!!

'Strength and dignity are her clothing…'
Proverbs 31:25

So I don’t believe there should be such a thing as 'church clothes', because just like going to church doesn't make you are Christian, clothing yourself well one-day of the week doesn't make you any more holy! Whether we like it or not we live in a fallen world and we can't go running around the Garden of Eden naked like Adam and Eve!

As such we need to recognize that the way we dress, just like the way we speak can send mixed messages if we are not completely consistent.

If we want to be able to empower and encourage other women to find their value in the Lord, we can't successfully do that if our chest is hanging out or our Instagram is mostly 'bikini shots'!!

'So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance...But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]'
1 Peter 1:13-15

 

'But [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ.'
1 Peter 1:19

So girl, no matter what you've done or haven't done in the past, it's time to turn a new page! It's time to remind yourself how beautiful and priceless you are! And clothe yourself in strength, love, humility and grace!