Devotionals for the Heart: Why God loves to hear you sing to Him!

Sing Your Song
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” – Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV)

Sing! Sing a song to God.

The call for people to sing in public induces anxiety in most people because of the world’s standards. Some claim tone deafness, some claim fear of being shy or not wanting to stand out. I have a family member who won’t sing at all because when she was young someone told her that she didn’t have a voice worth the sound of song. Such a lie broke my heart for her. Someone had stolen her authentic praise and worship voice from her.

I love to sing, but I wasn’t always good at it. I’ve been singing since I was a child because my mother loves to sing. For me it took a lot of practice and finally pushing beyond criticism to believe in my own voice. The voice God had given me. It’s not going to resound from a Broadway stage or win America’s Got Talent. No. It does something bigger and better than that. The sound of it brings glory and honor to God.

Each of us has a unique voice that is God-given and meant to praise and exalt him. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it is commanded to be offered up to him. No, you don’t have to sing aloud in church. Yes, God knows the song of your heart, but he also doesn’t want anything to hinder your outward expression of song. Your song is a love song back to him. It is powerful and can transform the atmosphere around you.

The Psalms of David in the Bible show us the need and freedom to praise and worship God with song in every season of our lives. During the good, the bad, and even the ugliest moments. Why? Because God delights in your praise and worship. Your song opens the heavens and chases away the darkness. Songs create miracles. Songs change lives.

In Exodus 15:1-2 ESV, after God delivered Moses and the people of Israel from Egypt, they sang a song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

Has God been victorious in your life? Have you experience his goodness, faithfulness, and blessings? Just for the air you breathe, there should be a resounding yes! Take that breath and make a joyful noise to your God today. Cast away any fear and go for it! Your song is worthy. Your song is beautiful. Your song is a delight to the Father, who loves you beyond measure.

God promises that your sound will not return void. He will receive your praise, and all of Heaven will rejoice with you. It’s what we were made for—to sing and shout unto the Lord. And if you can’t think of anything to sing, just open the bible to Psalm and pick one. Then let go and sing and dance like David! God is waiting to hear your song.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for my unique singing voice that You created in me to praise and worship You. Bless my song as I open my mouth and offer You my sounds of thanksgiving. Give me the courage to sing for You despite my circumstances. Help me to praise You in every season. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Goodness of God” Live with Jenn Johnson (Bethel Music). Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Movie Review and Giveaway for "An Unlikely Angel" on Pure Flix

My Review of An Unlikely Angel movie:

Today, I have another movie review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way the difference is in the content that points you back to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review the movie An Unlikely Angel. I watched this heartwarming movie twice in the month of August 2022 before it was made available for viewing on Pure Flix this August 26. I loved everything about this movie! I’m eager to share my review with you. First, I’d like to describe the storyline in the words of talking points from Momentum then I’ll share my thoughts (review).

This film is for parents who are trying to do it all and need to know they aren’t alone on the journey. “An Unlikely Angel” is a movie about second chances and prioritizing what’s truly important in life. The movie “An Unlikely Angel” helps bring us back to basics in an overcomplicated world. It’s okay to not control every aspect of your life.

Here’s the synopsis of the movie: Janie is a workaholic who is falling apart at the thought of becoming a first-time mom. She whispers a small prayer for help and it's answered in a very un- likely way when an angel intervenes and fast forwards her life. Will her second chance change how she approaches life? Janie is lucky enough to be given a second chance, but will she change before it's too late?

Now for my review: 

There’s nothing about this movie that I did not enjoy! Sometimes when I start watching a movie, I change the channel after the first five or ten minutes because the plot is too slow or feels corny. But that’s not the case with An Unlikely Angel. The story hooks you from the first scene and keeps it moving at a pace so fast that if you blink more than once, you’ll miss something!

The producers of this movie did an amazing job at paying close attention to all of the details. As storytellers, they covered all of their bases! They chose the right actors for each part of this story!

The actors for An Unlikely Angel include: Jillian Murray stars in this movie as Janie (the successful business woman who is struggling with becoming a mother). Robert Amaya stars as Gabe (the angel). Aaron Mees stars as David (Janie’s husband). Sam J. Jones stars as Buck (Janie’s dad). Brittany Goodwin stars as Kelly (David’s female friend) and Delyla de Castro stars as Samantha (Janie’s daughter). And they all really did “star” in this movie because as actors, they each brought their bright light to the movie. The main characters and supporting actors were so brilliantly played, I think they all deserve an Academy Award!

This movie is sweet and heartwarming. But it also tackles real-life issues that most people—especially ambitious women who are struggling with the thought of starting a family—can relate to and learn from. This movie is equally a teaching tool as it is entertainment. The viewers of this film will learn life lessons that will help them in the long run in their journey well after the movie is over.

Themes of this movie included:

· Children grow up too fast

· Fear over becoming a first-time parent

· Letting go of the need to control everything

· Balancing priorities and determining what’s more important in life

· Second chances

· Trust in God’s plan

· The impact and power of prayer

· Back to basics and simplify what we’ve overcomplicated

· Going back in order to move forward

An Unlikely Angel is a movie that will introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it again and again! And once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Here's the website link to where you can watch An Unlikely Angel:
https://www.pureflix.com/movie/an-unlikely-angel

See the movie trailer:
https://youtu.be/I_D2MxnmuPc

Watch the Momentum Influencers Interview conducted by Jean Thomason featuring Robert Amaya, who played an angel named Gabe in the movie here:
https://youtu.be/5f3d4w0hqWo

Before you go, enter this contest for your chance to WIN a FREE 3-month Pure Flix subscription!

Please note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. The giveaway starts today and ends on September 4, 2022. If you're participating in the giveaway for An Unlikely Angel, please note that we cannot accept winners that have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last six months.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c402/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#AnUnlikelyAngelMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: Why you shouldn't give up on your dreams

Keep Dreaming
A devotional by Shirley A. Denson

“Now Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more.” 

–Genesis 37:5 (AMP)

Joseph was a dreamer from a young age.

He was 17 years old when he had the first dream about him being in rulership over his brothers. The brothers didn’t receive it well, and hated Joseph him for his dream. He then had a second dream, that pretty much confirmed the first dream, and he told them again. Of course, they didn’t like the second version either, and hated him the more because of it. Joseph, like so many of us, get excited about our dreams and plans, and share them prematurely—or to the wrong people. His brothers were literal haters, and because of that hatred they decided to get rid of him.

As a result, Joseph had to go by way of the pit, Potiphar, prison, and Pharaoh before he reached his place of rulership at the palace. However, every pitstop/detour on Joseph’s journey played a part in positioning him for dream fulfillment. Although Joseph was 17 when he had the dream, and 30 when the dream was fulfilled, it still came to fruition. Although 13 years had transpired between the dream and fulfillment, Habakkuk 2:3 (AMP) reminds us that, “For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time. It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, because it will certainly come; it will not delay.”

I know that this verse may sound contradicting, but there’s a notable difference between tarrying/delay and processing. You, like Joseph, may have concluded that since what God shown you hasn’t come to pass yet that there’s a delay. However, what’s actually happening isn’t delay, but it’s the processing.

Processing is often times viewed as a dirty word in the church. There is nothing more despised that having to endure the process of a thing. Understandably, it’s because the timeframe is undisclosed, and we live in a microwavable generation where everything has to be quick, fast, and in a hurry. Although Joseph had the dreams at 17, the appointed time was when he was 30. Joseph’s dreams didn’t tarry, but they did process. After they finished processing, 13 years later, then was it the appointed time for them to be fulfilled. In the in-between time, Joseph had to endure some hardships on the way to fulfillment, but he never stopped dreaming, nor believing what God had showed him in his initial dreams.

Joseph didn’t let what he had been through deter his dreams. Though he had been put in a pit, prevaricated on in Potiphar’s house, placed in prison, and petitioned by Pharaoh before he was provided the palace, he kept dreaming! Don’t let what you’ve been through, or are going through, steal/silence your dreams.

When those closest to you no longer want to be around you because of your dream…keep dreaming! When you’re talked about and lied on…keep dreaming! When people/circumstances try to restrain you, or box you in…keep dreaming! What you are carrying is posturing you to fulfill the need of a Pharaoh, that will ultimately provide you the palace. You’re not too old, or too young to dream, so don’t let anything hinder you. And by all means, keep dreaming! After you dream, wake up, and then execute! God still fulfills dreams! If it hasn’t happened yet, there’s still time!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for being omniscient. You knew my end from the beginning, and You knew the path that my life would take. Help me to remember, and pursue, the dream(s) You’ve placed on the inside of me. Give me the patience to endure the processing time it takes for the dream(s) to be fulfilled, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Shirley A. Denson is a native of Statesboro, GA.

She found out at a young age that she had a creative mind and a way with words. Later on in life, she learned to cultivate her passion for writing as a budding author.

Shirley is very passionate about writing. Each book that she releases will be a product of God stirring and cultivating the gift He’s entrusted her with. She has won numerous writing awards/certificates, and is a published poet and blogger.

For the past six years, Shirley has worked as a professional ghostwriter, editor, and author. It is her joy and goal that through print, she might impact lives and leave the imprint of the King.

Visit her website to stay in the loop about her new book releases, current projects, and to read her blog posts.

~*~
Connect with Shirley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SayWhatEnterprises
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saywhatenterprises/

Devotionals for the Heart: True Love

God’s Steadfast Love for You
A devotional by Kerry Teravskis

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.” 

–Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

Steadfast. Resolute. Firm. Faithful. Loyal.

Do we even know what this word means anymore? I mean, really? In our consumer-driven society, we do not stick around when the tough times come. Or when we lose interest, we move on. We are a fickle people. We change relationships, jobs, homes, churches about as often as we change shoes.

Maybe I am being a bit harsh. But, the amount of change I see and hear about has me scratching my head. People tell me they stopped praying because it didn’t work. They stopped coming to church because it was at the wrong time—you know, they have young children. Or, they are so busy that they just don’t have time to read the Bible. They are busy, can’t you see?

It does sound harsh, I get it. But in comparison to the steadfast love of God, our lip service is pathetic. The reason these verses, along with an old simple chorus that accompanies it, have been playing in my head nonstop for the last four days is this stark reality–God’s love remains.

In love Jesus Christ left the throne, humbled Himself as a babe, endured ridicule, betrayal, mockery, beatings, the Cross. He became sin who knew no sin. And because of that His Father, His beloved Abba, had to turn His face away when Jesus was on the Cross. It was because of God’s steadfast love that Jesus came in obedience to His Father’s will (John 3:16).

Think of this: Jesus knew loneliness, abandonment, suffering, pain, hunger, anguish, mockery – all these were done by the hands of man but also within the Sovereign will of the Father.

Now consider this: Jesus knew love, laughter, kindness, companionship, mercy, grace, obedience, goodness, worship, prayer, a shared meal, an inside joke, the feel of a child’s hand in His, the touch of the sick. He saw faith in action, humility displayed, sacrifice given.

Oh how great is the Father’s love for us! Overwhelmed would be the best word to describe my heart. I’m overwhelmed at the price Christ paid, the ransom for humankind that was paid in full by Him, the crucifixion suffered for me and you when Jesus was fully innocent! The Lamb of God who was without sin. Jesus took my place, our place, on that cross. We deserve God’s wrath and punishment and not a place at God’s table. Instead because of Jesus, we receive mercy, grace, steadfast love, a room in His mansion (John 14:2) and a place to sit on His lap.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ever ceases!

Let’s Pray: O Lord, I am indeed overwhelmed with Your love. It is faithful, complete, good, resolute in its capacity for me. You are amazing and I stand in awe of You. I now bow in worship of You. I now am at Your feet in humility of You, my Lord. Lead me. Guide me. Bless me. Protect me. Help me follow Your Son all the way to Heaven! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Jesus Paid It All” (song) by Kim Walker-Smith. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, my life is very full. 

My husband and I met in college and served in the mission field for a few years before settling down back in the States to raise our family.

We were a homeschooling family for 20 years and enjoyed it immensely. For the last 22 years we have lived on a small farm in Northern California where we have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving our own food as well. Our farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings, and we have an open door for dear friends, old and new.

Following and serving Jesus is an integral part of my life as well as that of my family. Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, I love to demonstrate my love for Jesus by giving to Him in service.

I’ve been a blogger for seven years, a Bible study writer for a year and have spent this last year writing devotionals about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

~*~
Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog/
https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: God wants to gently guide you through life

The Gentle Guidance of God
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Finding the will of God can be a daunting task for most Christians.

In fact, finding the will of God can seem like an impossible task. Most of us have been led to believe that the will of God is illusive. We believe we have to read the entire Bible from beginning to end at least six times before we are ‘spiritual’ enough to know God’s will. We think that we have to be ‘super’ Christians to understand something like God’s will.

Or worse, some people experience FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) when it comes to the will of God. I am a Christian who is guilty of ‘fear of missing out’ on the will of God. What if God was speaking to me and I was not listening? What if I was supposed to hear a special sermon or inspirational message that would tell me exactly what I was supposed to do with my life and I missed it? What if I have completely missed God’s will and ruined my entire life?

STOP! That spiral of FOMO will never lead you closer to the heart of God, and therefore, has no place in your life. The first word from the acronym FOMO is ‘fear’. The Bible has a lot to say about fear, but simply put, ‘faith is greater than fear’. Faith is being able to step out in spite of your fear because you know that God will take care of you, no matter what.

One truth I always come back to concerning the will of God is this quote by C.S. Lewis: “For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.”

God’s ultimate plan will come to pass. The book of Revelation is filled with God’s ultimate will and purpose. There is nothing you can do to stop God’s ultimate will. You can run from God. You can reject His plans for you. But in the end, God uses all things for His glory. It is not a question of ‘if’ you find God’s will for your life, but rather ‘how’ you fulfill that plan.

Many of us are searching for an emotional, dramatic, ‘Damascus Road’ (Acts 9:3-8) kind of calling. We are looking for God to directly give us permission to fulfill His will. But what if the will of God does not come in one dramatic experience? What if the will of God came in gentle whispers from the Holy Spirit? What if God is guiding us through His will right now, but we are too busy looking for extraordinary signs to notice?

What if we were never meant to ‘find’ God’s will for our lives, but rather, we are simply meant to live our lives one day at a time, trusting that God will guide us wherever He desires? That is what it means to live by faith. Faith does not rely on clearly written out plans. Faith is taking one step at a time, not knowing the destination but trusting the gentle hand of God to lead you.

Even when we think we have ‘figured out’ the will of God, life throws us a curveball and we realize we had it wrong all along. It may seem to us that there is no defined purpose in our lives, but we have to remember that we are only seeing things from our limited human perspective. God sees and knows all things.

Take that risky step into the darkness. Without risk, faith is not faith at all. We must be willing to submit and be gently guided by God toward our ultimate purpose. God loves you. He has thoughts of peace toward you. He is fighting for you. Take a risk and put all your plans into His hands.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your gentle guidance. Please strengthen our faith that we may fulfill Your will for our daily lives. Help us to submit to the Holy Spirit and lay our plans and agendas before you. Lead us to fulfill Your ultimate purpose for our lives. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s Song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois to Christian parents and has known Jesus personally since the age of five.

She is currently attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

God’s dream of Tessa becoming a writer was revealed to her at the age of sixteen and she hasn’t been able to stop since. Though she has not yet been published, Tessa enjoys writing historical romance novels and speculative fiction.

Tessa believes God loves stories, and through her writing, she wants to reveal the happily ever after God dreams of for each of his daughters—one where Jesus is the knight in shining armor.

Tessa loves all things Georgian/Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size. When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, Tessa can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the mixing bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101227159

Devotionals for the Heart: God is our Eternal Rock and True Foundation

Rocks, Stones, Pebbles and the God who never changes!
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” –1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT)

Have you ever dug in the dirt to create a garden or to build a structure?

Where I live the soil is full of rocks. Whenever you want to dig in the ground, you are guaranteed to find rocks of all sizes—from gravel-sized pebbles to enormous boulders.

The fascinating thing to me is that often I dig out the soil, remove the rocks to plant the flowers or bushes, then place other rocks back around whatever it was I had planted either for decoration, for drainage, or to distinguish the garden from the lawn. The rocks that are a nuisance in one spot might be necessary somewhere else. The only difference is the purpose of the rock.

God created the world and it is full of stones and rocks. They are visual and plentiful and maybe that’s why they show up so often in scripture. Many times, especially in the Psalms, God is referred to as a rock of safety or refuge (Psalm 46:1). He is the rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1). It’s easy to imagine that when an army is being pursued, a group of large stones make a useful place of safety, a place to regroup and rest. And if the stones are on a mountain or a high place, they are a vantage point to watch for danger.

Stones were used to build memorials and altars, places of remembrance and worship. The Lord had Joshua and the people pick up stones from the middle of the Jordan River where they had crossed into the Promised Land, then they used those stones to build a memorial (Joshua 4:9). The stones would serve as a reminder of the safety He provided as they took possession of the land.

The Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments, carved into stone by God’s own hand (Exodus 31:18). Because of a rock’s hardness and nature, once a rock has been altered, it will never be the same as it was before. One of those commandments was not to create idols of stone or wood or metal to worship. The Israelites—and believers today—are to worship only the Creator, never the creation or anything we’ve made.

Rocks are foundations, steady and unchanging, the perfect place to build a house. Jesus reminded all of us that when we build our houses on unstable ground, there is a chance they will not stand the storm (Matthew 7:26-27). He wants us to build our dwelling places—our lives—on Him and the truth only He can give.

The most well-known of all the stones in the Bible might be the one that was rolled away from Jesus’s tomb (Luke 24:2). The stone was large, heavy, and a perfect symbol of all the obstacles that were between us and God before His death and resurrection. Through that act, Jesus became the cornerstone and foundation of the spiritual temple God is building on the earth—the Church, which includes each of us as living stones. We are to share in the building of His kingdom here, until He returns. And then, when the new heavens and new earth are created, the Holy City will shine in brilliance with gold and gemstones (Revelation 21:11). Just imagine how beautiful those rocks will be!

So next time you kick a rock out of your path, pick a pebble out of your shoe or drive down a gravel road, remember God’s faithfulness and salvation. God loves you and He doesn’t want you to forget it!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, be my Rock today. Remind me that You are a sure foundation in a world that shifts and changes. Give me opportunities to share Your love and truth with those around me, to help them know the safety and peace that only You can give. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Upon This Rock” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. 

~*~
Connect with Glynis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Devotionals for the Heart: When you want to represent God well

Wearing God’s Name
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

–Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Sometimes I think of how funny it is that we turn scripture into clichés. Do we really mean the things that we say or are we just stating it because it is relevant and it sounds biblical and holy?

When talking about purity, it is easy to say that we should follow specific guidelines and rules of thumb when it comes to checking to see if our dress is appropriate. But are the guidelines and rules a true and accurate reflection of what our hearts believe? We are continuously told and advised to have a pure heart and mind, and that our clothes should represent what hearts feel. But how do we check our hearts to ensure that what we say is really a reflection of what we say believe?

Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts…”. A person should not be convinced to dress a certain way (or not to dress a certain way) and they do it (or do not do it) merely because they received it from someone other than the Lord. If this happens, then it simply becomes a set of rules that are being followed. These are rules that “man” has put into place.

Consider this quote by Rick Holland: “Your clothes are a loud, maybe the loudest, announcement of your of theology. When you wear something, you’re telling people what you believe about God, what you believe about purity, what you believe about holiness, what you believe about men, what you believe about pride, what you believe about clothing and what you what you believe about nakedness. You’re also telling the world what you think about your husband. If you’re not married, you’re basically saying, “I’m advertising for a husband externally.” If you are married, you are saying, “I don’t love my husband or care about the sanctity and purity of our marriage.”

One of my favorite motivational lines is: “What we do in moderation, others will do in excess.” It is a subtle reminder of how we must set the example of what modesty looks like. We must remember that to some, we are the only Bible they will ever see. Therefore, we must make sure that we are being a presentable and accurate ambassador for Jesus Christ at all times. Just as how we are responsible for others through our teaching of the Gospel to them, we are also could be responsible for them when they misunderstand the gospel because of our inconsistencies.

Think of how many times you have done what you knew was wrong or simply was not what you were supposed to do. How many times did you do it only because you saw someone else do it first? You may have thought, “Well, if they can do it and not get caught, surely I can get away with it too.” Or “She did it, so it must be okay.”

Let’s use a mirror for this next part of my message. Think of the questions and answers between yourself (it’s just you and the mirror that shows you who you are). The mirror represents what the world says it is okay to do, and you looking into the mirror, represent the Holy Spirit. 

Here’s an example of a conversation between you and the mirror…

The Mirror: I can still bring glory to God regardless of what I wear.

You: You may be able to, but your words and your actions don’t match up, which cause more of a problem to others than it does to you.

The Mirror: If my body is the temple, I want it to be it a fashionable temple. I don’t want people to think that because a person is a Christian that they have to look homely.

You: It doesn’t. As a matter of fact God wants us to look our best. He wants us to look our best through Him so we can continue to bring Him glory. Since God is holy and the clothes you want to wear represent what is not holy, we really want to make sure that we use our bodies and our clothes to be a reflection of the holiness of God.

The Mirror: Of all of the things that God has to deal with, he is not thinking about the clothes that I am wearing.

You: In the same way an earthly father will “tense up” when he sees his teenage daughter wearing something inappropriate, our Heavenly Father does not like to see His daughters degrade themselves with clothing that does not bring the type of honorable attention. Remember, God loves me and my appearance regardless of what it is. The world will only accept me conditionally. 

Conclusion

It is important to remember that the Gospel teaches us to “come as you are” to accept Jesus Christ into your life. But that doesn’t mean that after we get to know God for ourselves, we should continue to dress inappropriately or as we please in a way that will lead people astray.

Try your best to represent your Heavenly Father well, not just in the clothes you wear but how you treat people, the choices you make and the people who you interact with on a daily basis. We’re not perfect but we have a God who is perfect. Let’s let Him lead us to check our hearts and be a reflection of Him to the world.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for Your guidance and love. You give us the Holy Spirit to help us stay closer to You. We pray we are receiving everything You have given us as we continue on this journey to holiness through and with You. Thank You for your unwavering love. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Your Love Divine” by Richard Smallwood & Vision. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Wear Your Name” by Gylchris Sprauve. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more’. With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts. 

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about Biblical Womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world.

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry. When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education.

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.