Posted in Reflections of Godly Womanhood
I have been asked this question many times and twice this past week,
so I thought I would share my testimony and convictions as a post.
Before I begin, however, I would like to say
that I am, in no way, judging those that do or do not wear dresses only.
If the Lord has not convicted you to wear dresses only, okay.
If the Lord has convicted you to wear dresses only, okay.
If the Lord is currently convicting you to wear dresses only, okay.
Either way, this is simply how the Lord worked in my own heart concerning this issue.
I have started and re-started this many times the past few days,
praying the Lord would direct me in what details to share.
I began giving a long, extended testimony that began from youth,
however, the Lord pressed upon my heart to simply share the Truth that He revealed to me.
I had struggled with this area for quite some time when I first began walking with the Lord.
I was growing spiritually in other areas but didn't really want to look into this area too much
because I really didn't know that I wanted to give up my pants,
if that's what I discovered He wanted.
But the Lord continued to work in my heart
and allowed situations and conversations to 'come up' about this topic.
I read "this" article and "that" article. One said "this"... one said "that".
I became quite confused with what way was the 'right' way.
I knew God's way was the right way so I stopped reading "this" and "that",
stopped looking at other godly women and what they did,
and determined to find the answer in God's Word Itself.
I prayed to the Lord and confessed that I loved wearing my pants
and couldn't really imagine giving them up and didn't really want to.
And I asked Him to show me His will in this area
and that my heart would be tender and not rebellious,
that my heart would not deceive myself,
that I would not try to justify "this" or "that",
that I would not try to "look into" this or that verse
and explain or rationalize it away
but that I would simply take Him at His Word and obey.
He brought me to these Scriptures, which spoke very clearly to me:
(emphasis added by me)
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man,
neither shall a man put on a woman's garment:
for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." ~ Deutoronomy 22:5
"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;" ~ 1 Timothy 2:9
God's Word is very clear. Especially in Deutoronomy 22:5.
That verse cannot be mistaken.
I also thought on and considered when and why women even began wearing pants.
I'm sure there were many driving forces
but doubted that any of them were wholly to honor and obey the Lord.
I also thought about how God wants us to be separated from the world.
And paid attention to the world's view of women, which is opposite of God's.
I saw how often people tend to associate modest, long flowing dresses with godliness.
Is it right? It doesn't matter. The point is that many people do.
Just as our music, drinking, recreation, entertainment, and lifestyle
should be different, so should our appearance.
We represent a Heavenly King. We are daughters of that King. We are princesses.
As Christians, we reprensent Christ.
In addition, I admitted that my reasoning for wearing pants was, well, because I could.
I rationalized all kinds of reasons that I should wear them,
but it was selfish and it was my own desire.
And I soon learned it was not the Lord's desire for me.
Another thing the Lord brought to my mind
was the issue of causing a brother in Christ to stumble.
Whether we like it or not, men are visual creatures. They are stimulated visually.
We may not be able to control their thoughts,
but we definately control whether or not we make it easier for them
or encourage those thoughts.
I also realized that my main focus in getting dressed in the morning
was because I wanted to look nice.
Not that there is anything wrong with looking nice,
but my driving force and main goal should be to wear what He wants me to wear,
to wear what brings Him honor and glory,
not what brings me comfort, satisfaction, or praise.
But above all those things, I simply took God at His Word
and thanked Him for answering my prayer in revealing it to me simply.
I, then, knew what I needed to do.
So I reluctantly disposed of almost all of my pants,
all except my very favorite two pairs.
But soon after, the Lord convicted me that I was wrong to hold on to those 'favorites',
that I was not truly giving Him my all,
and I truly did not surrender this area to Him, nor was I obeying.
After all, partial obedience IS disobedience.
God speaks very clearly about lukewarm, wishy washy Christians:
"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spue thee out of my mouth." ~ Revelation 3:16
He also revealed to me that He does not convict someone in 'halves'.
He wants our all... our whole heart.
I knew there was no reason for me to hold on to the "what if" pair of pants.
It is not God's will or desire that I wear dresses only in public.
That would be for 'show'. That would be hypocrisy.
He wants me to be at home what I am in public and vice versa.
So I repented and disposed of my final pairs of pants
and have faithfully been dresses only since.
I have never regretted it either.
And the Lord has blessed me in this obedience, as He does with all obedience.
He has also given me many opportunities to share my testimony
and encourage others that struggle in this area.
It's a difficult thing to give up our own wants and desires.
But God tells us that we need to die to ourselves
( "...I die daily." 1 Corinthians 15:31;
"...that our old man is crucified with him..." ~ Romans 6:6)
and we need to seek Him with our WHOLE heart
("Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart." ~ Psalm 119:2;
"With my whole heart have I sought thee..." ~ Psalm 119:10)
I praise the Lord He worked in my own heart in this area
and pray I will always seek His will with my whole heart in all things,
that I will always have a tender heart and a teachable spirit.
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;
yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart." ~ Psalm 119:34
