I used to like tight clothing; really tight jeans that stuck to my body like a second skin, very short dresses, miniskirts, sheer clothing and deep cut necklines- anything that yelled “Look at me!” when I arrived somewhere.
It wasn’t a matter of being in style, what I really wanted was to call attention.
I thought that in order to be beautiful, I had to expose myself; be sensual. Today I see that my attitude revealed great insecurities and a deep need for attention along with other things.
When I came to the church, no one ever told me that I had to change my inappropriate way of dressing… but a very special someone showed me that that wasn’t the right way to be beautiful.
The Holy Spirit made me realize that I needed to change the way that I dressed.
That our beauty doesn’t lie in the amount of skin we show but in a combination of qualities that stem principally from characteristics of our character.
I stopped using tight, deep cut and transparent clothing, not only to church but also outside of church. For what good is it to go to church dressed properly but once you reach home you go back to wearing the same old clothes? I knew that the Holy Spirit expected more from me.
My transformation was quite radical because I started wearing large shirts, long dresses and very loose clothing. It took me a while to understand that I couldn’t be “8 or 80.” After all, I knew what wasn’t appropriate but I didn’t know what WAS appropriate.
Little by little I began to understand so many things. The Holy Spirit always guiding me, using people to help me and making me understand the true meaning of beauty and the true value of a woman.
Elegant woman are beautiful, they don’t wear those types of clothing, for they vulgarize their image.
Task #34 for Becoming a Lovelier Woman
“The next time you are getting ready, look at yourself in mirror and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. If you don’t feel good with a certain article of clothes, then you can take that as a sign. Also, observe elegant woman that you admire and take them as an example. I advise you, of course, to mirror yourself in Godly women for this.”
You don’t have the Holy Spirit yet? Then yet another reason to seek Him even more!
Ms Nanda, I 100% agree with this post, i use to battle with still looking cute and not being sexy or showing whats not for sale and with reading the sexy girls book has helped me alot and so has this post . K.GordonUK
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of myself.
ReplyDeleteI use to love the short skirts and dresses until one day I lost the desire to call so much attention, but instead really disliked being watched on the street and treated in a disrespectful manner. On T.V, in the cinema, in magazines EVERYWHERE being the center of attention or having that desire tends to be the norm, but it's true, with the Holy Spirit and God, you become more attentive and conscious, trying to please Him in all that you do, from the way that you dress, to your speech etc.
I really wish so many other girls could recognize this "...the more we expose, the uglier and worthless we become."
Ashanta Hay
London, Stamfordhill
.x
This is so true when I first came to the church I couldnt wear the casual clothes that I would wear daily to the church, because they were vey revealing. I had specific clothes just for church and it would be long dresses or skirts. After recieving the holy spirit I bagan to feel uncomfortable if I wore anything that showed to much. Even now when I go shopping I always look and think is that too revealing, too short, too tight and if i'm not sure I wont buy it.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that every young woman should read. Unfortunately some won't understand. But I'm very grateful that in the same way the Holy Spirit showed you what was right, Mrs Nanda, is the same way that he has shown me.
ReplyDeleteI'm very conscious of myself and the things that I wear now. So wherever I go I look appropriate as a woman.
I wasn't very bad where I would wear miniskirts and such. Coming from a strict African family I guess I was brought up not to do such things. But I'd style myself in a particular way so that I could get attention.
Now whenever an item of clothing does what I don't want it to, I'd add another so that it becomes less eye-catching in a negative way, or I'd just throw it out.
My case was wearing nice, elegant clothes to church but when it came to outside of the church, i would go back to wearing the skimpy short clothes with the piercings in and basically looking like the average worldly youth. This changed after my encounter and anything short or clingy makes me feel totally uncomfortable! It makes me cringe when i see others wearing this type of clothing exposing the temple of the holy spirit for others to see and the worst thing is that they dont even know what they are doing and they think they look nice! this is why we need to fight to bring people to the church so they too can understand, through the guidance of the holy spirit, just how bad they look wearing this type of cloth.
ReplyDeleteWe are suppose to be a reflection of the Holy Spirit so we have to represent him in a Godly way. Like Mrs Nanda, I only use to wear revealing clothes in the world because I want to be noticed but I was very insecure about many things in my body. When we have the holy spirit we are confident about ourselves because he is the one guiding us, not just in clothing but in other in everything that will represent him. I love it when I wake up and choose an outfit to wear, I feel comfortable and good in it, above all it says something about who you are who you are representing.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true i was like this, i would wear those types of clothing in and outside of church, but the Holy Spirit really did help me to change the way i dress. The tight jeans i used to wear got thrown away, the crop tops all gone, short shorts and skirts, gone out the window.
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs Nanda
ReplyDeleteI can really relate with this post,I was obsessed with tight clothes and really short skirts or shorts and this was all for attention.
When I came to church i learnt what was appropriate and what wasn't.
After receiving the Holy spirit I developed a habit of asking God What I should wear,There's times I don't have a clue what to wear but for sure when i ask He always reply.
Most definite task Ill be continuing..
:-)
Chantel
Brixton UK
What people don't get is that you don't need to be sexy to be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I wasn’t the type of person that wore ‘skimpy’ clothes or tight clothes. I always liked to cover myself up with turtle necked clothes etc. But after I started coming more I realised that yes im covering up the necessary things that need to be covered up, but I went to the extreme! I was so insecure about the way that I looked, but after I realised that before God I am a priceless pearl in His presence. From there I decided to change the way that I dressed. I even received more help from the sisterhood rush month, the first time the rush month came to the UK I didn’t want to part take because I read the No-No list and I didn’t agree to us wearing a dress and skirt on Wednesdays especially because I didn’t like my legs, I felt they were too skinny. But along the way God took my insecurities and threw them away! Now they don’t hinder me from looking beautiful to come before His presence on Wednesdays and any other days during the week that I attend.
ReplyDeleteTaiwo Lawal x
What is touching about this post is that nobody told you about your inappropriate dressing or forced you to change.
ReplyDeleteThis is very important as it shows God accepts us to come to His Presence, but for His Presence to be inside of of us, we have to allow God to change our ways, our habits, thoughts etc.
This is what it is to listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive to His Will, even the things we once thought were acceptable become inappropriate, whether in our appearance or character.
l was never a outside girl but, l had a time in my life that l was wearing tight clothes and the worst part was that l didn't even recognise it. My parents tried to help me but it didn't work until l looked closely at myself and realised. Only God can help me. Even being stubborn He helped me realised my wrong, it took some time for me to realise that, but finely understand.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing that ever since someone advised me to and from that day onwards the way I dressed changed. When I looked in the mirror, I say God is this how you want me to dress today, if I don't feel good about it then I change until I get the sign of approval. It helps alot.
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs Nanda,
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was once like this, coming to the church and outside of church looking terrible and feeling terrible but after hearing the word of God and listening to the Holy Spirit, for definite I began gradually to change the way I dressed and even the way I behaved.
So glad things have changed for the better.
Esther Edewor
Brixton UK
Yes, this is a so true Mrs Nanda. I remember before I use to love wearing short skirts and tights jeans, crop tops etc etc. But after I gave my life to God, that all changed.Now He's my stylist every morning! This is something that I will continue doing.
ReplyDeleteShanna Brown UK
Its true.the Holy Spirit guide us in everything we do even in the way we dress, because we have reflect HIM.
ReplyDeleteWhat is touching about this post is that nobody told you about your inappropriate dressing or forced you to change.
ReplyDeleteThis is very important as it shows God accepts us to come to His Presence, but for His Presence to be inside of us, we have to allow God to change our ways, our habits, thoughts etc.
This is what it is to listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive to His Will, even the things we once thought were acceptable become inappropriate, whether in our appearance or character.
I remember a woman I use to work with years ago before I came to the church i remember her to this day the reason why is she always dressed very elegantly and never showed her body and she wasn't a Christian but the way she dressed was awesome and the men treated her differently with so much respect as if she was a lady. I still remember her to this day
ReplyDelete