But truthfully it is a struggle, it is a struggle because of the ways of this world
The BROKENNESS, the hurt, the media, Lust, pornography, the false teachers spewing what seems to be truth to just tickle the ears yet leave the soul dry and empty. Heck I cannot even go to the gym without looking at the TV's reflecting what "beauty" is suppose to look like on women. TV's stating buy this house and your life will be perfect, buy this make up and guys will passionately desire you. The things that state women can only be beautiful if you are a size 3 tan and have a six pack.
Honestly it is a struggle going through Instagram sometimes and seeing all the posting about gyms and the latest make up trend. I know I may seem that I am going on and on right now but I do have a point behind all what I am writing.
Here is my heart this world is so messed up and Satan really enjoys using this world as his playground. My point being when did we as Christians become so consumed with our looks rather than working on our character. Are we more concerned with losing weight than we are with living for the things that eternally matter. Now am I saying don't take care of your bodies by no means, our bodies were given us to take care of them and be good stewards of what we do to them. Am I saying to look all frumpy no, but my heart is more the amount of time we are pouring into non eternal things. The things that really don't matter in the end. Yes I work out to take care of my body, but more so it is so important to take care of your heart, our hearts are so PRONE TO WANDER and if they aren't plugged daily in the light of the Gospel we my friends will fall and go down our own selfish paths, I speak because I have been there.
Yes I believe a godly woman can be beautiful not to diminish her looks but there is so much more to being a godly woman.
"1 Peter 3:3-4New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."
Now this text we need to take it in its original context but it does apply to today. And all scripture is useful for teaching. God isn't stating that we have to not look beautiful and He isn't saying it is a sin to look nice, but what about your heart are you tenderly caring for it the way God wants us to care for it? Are we pouring as much time into the Word of God as we are the gym? Are we spending as much time at Jesus' feet as we are the vanity station? Are we spending as much time praying and seeking God's heart as we are clothing shopping. I know I can't answer yes, but I do know I am getting a lot better at being a good steward of my time. Because beauty will fade it is a given fact I know I am not going to look as young as I do now when I am 70-90 years old. But I do know that if I keep my heart so in twined with God's heart that is what is going to matter. I don't understand why many people don't get this today. We can't be godly people if we don't spend time with God. Yes we can say oh but Makayla you don't know I go to church each week! I have been there and yes you can go to church, but Bible reading isn't meant for one day a week, I ask you are you daily spending that time in the Word it is a reason it is called daily bread for a reason. Jesus is the way the Truth and the Life and I have found over this past month the more I get into the Word NOTHING I REPEAT NOTHING else deeply satisfies. It shows we were wired for more than this earthly living. Because once you begin to get in the Truth it breaks chains, because you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
Which brings me to another point and I know a lot of you may hate me for stating this but ladies this is wired for you. Modesty.... Now I know that word is very much hated in this society because we have become a feminism culture. And I know the argument oh it is the boy's fault if he stumbles because of something I wear. Well I have done numerous hours of research on this matter and God made men visual. God made them that way, the way they think about sex is actually linked to the part of their brains where breathing, eating and normal daily activities take place in the brain without thinking about it. Oh but Makayla you can't say that because you are excusing them if they sin. No I am not those were not my words, Men are responsible for the sin they commit, women are responsible for the sin they commit. But what I am saying is dressing in such a way to not even cause our dear brothers to stumble. Media does enough of that I have talked to some of the most godly men I know of they have stated "I cannot even go into a grocery store and not even run into the temptation of lust due to the magazines". That hurts my heart so deeply, and what hurts my heart even deeper is knowing I may I have caused my brothers to stumble. There is a reason why the Bible brings up how we should dress to the women because that is how God wired men to be visual. God created both male and female in His image and both of us are fearfully and wonderfully made. Not only to my brothers do I want to dress modestly but I want to be a light and an example to my brothers who do not know the hope of Christ yet. I want to reflect the heart of Jesus, Jesus warns deeply about causing other brothers or sisters to stumble. There is a deep reason why Paul talks so much about to stay away from sexual immorality because it will destroy you from the inside out. I want to make sure I never make my brothers stumble that is my heart.
Ok on now the next tangent persay... What exactly is a godly woman you may ask? Well one famous scripture that comes to mind is Proverbs 31
The Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,which his mother taught him.
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
This is one of many descriptions in the Bible of what a godly woman should be.
This is what I DEEPLY desire to be, I want God to transform my life from the inside out DAILY. And we cannot do this on our own strength we NEED Him, we need Others, we need to be gracious with ourselves when we do slip up and sin. We need to REALIZE how DESPERATELY we need a SAVIOUR. To redeem us to make us His clean, pure, spotless bride. We need His word to cleanse us and rid every ounce of wickedness, sexual immorality, gossip, self centeredness out of our lives. We cannot live as godly women if we don't let the Gospel transform our lives from the inside out. If we don't realize how truly broken we are and we need Jesus to fill the cracks in our lives. My point of this blog post was not to ensue condemnation or guilt by no means. I mean this when I say this I speak this in love and I want you to know my heart. I want you to know I can only speak on these things because God has done these things in my life and is doing these things in my life. Conviction sucks yes I fully agree but thank God that He disciplines those He loves and only the Holy Spirit can convict all I can do is point you back to what the Word states. We are nothing without Christ and I need to be daily reminded of that. Who I am and who I was and who I will be is all because of the grace of God. To walk in grace because my heart is so prone to wander, I get this idea that I know what is good for me but in the end I don't. I try to write my own story but as soon as I try to take the pen from God's hands I end up with a 3 years old attempt at words which are just scribbles in the end. I need God to write my story even though it may be hard at times because we want to control. But God knows what He is doing and makes everything beautiful in His timing.
He is doing a good work in my life and yes I am not a definition of a godly woman but I ASPIRE and work towards making God the number one thing in EVERY area of my small life.
"Charm and Beauty is fleeting but a woman who FEARS the Lord is to be Praised."
Proverbs 31:30
