Half-length portrait of great African model wearing lovely dress sitting on the vintage sofa in front of the wonderful wooden table looking attentively at the photographer
We are familiar with this statement, “Dress to impress” and sisters we know how to do just that! One weekend I searched for the perfect shoes. I needed a nice pair of heels that would match nicely with my gold dress. I searched and searched, even asked my husband to help me (my husband hates shopping!), but he patiently went with me to several stores. Eventually, I found the right pair, the perfect pair!
That following Sunday, I got dress for church and got annoyed at how long it was taking me to get dressed. I pulled and tucked. Straightened and primped. I made sure my outfit and hair was perfect. Everything had to be perfect to match those perfect shoes. But then, I noticed how I was making such a fuss over what I was wearing and how I looked. I noticed how I was using so much time and energy in my appearance that I felt drained as I left the house later than I wanted.
As I rushed to church, I thought to myself, “Man! I put all that time and energy in my appearance, making sure my outfit was flawless, that I failed to focus on what was most important!” I failed to draw all my attention to the One who is perfect.
Instead of concentrating on how I would take advantage of a brand new day pleasing the Lord, I focused more on my outer appearance!
“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 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. (1 Pet. 3:3-4, NLT)
Sisters, we go to church all dressed up. We take pride in looking good and smelling good. We’re meticulous about what we have on, how our shoes, hats and purses match our outfits impeccably. We love it when our hair and makeup are flawless. We enjoy hearing those compliments about how well we look and there’s definitely nothing wrong with that! Everyone enjoys looking good. I know I do!
But how often……
Do we spend that needed time and effort striving to make our inner beauty perfect like Christ? How often does the inner woman compliment the light of our Savior? How often do we take the necessary measures to make sure our inward beauty matches our outward beauty? How often do we dress to impress our Heavenly Father? How often do we make sure our lives line up with what we sing about, praise about, teach and preach about on Sunday mornings? How often?
As we dress to impress, and as we adorn ourselves with outward beauty let’s not fail to do what’s most important.
Let’s strive to…..
Dress up our inner beauty with the virtues of a Godly woman and live a life that’s pleasing to God. (1 Pet. 3:1-7; Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim 2:10).
Daily allow God to clean us from the inside out, as we dress to impress Him, inwardly and outwardly (Matt. 23:25-28; 1 John 1:7-9; 2 Cor. 7:1).
“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received!” (2 Pet. 1:3, MSG)
Happy Friday! Let us dress to impress!
LET’S WALK IN FREEDOM TOGETHER & IMPACT THE WORLD!
*Originally posted 4/23/12.
Rhovonda L. Brown is speaker and author of two bestsellers, Walking in Freedom!: A Thirty-Day Devotional Journey for Women and At Least Say, “Thank You!”: An 8-Day Devotional Plan for a Grateful Heart.
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