Modesty in Social Media

My thoughts and convictions started coming together awhile back. Why I haven't said it yet is because it is difficult to kindly find the words. Difficult to say it without pointing your fingers at someone else. But, like most things I write about, it needs to be addressed. Not only does it need to be addressed, but it also needs to sink into your heart - as it has mine. The only way that will happen is for you to pray that God would give you an open mind to the things that HE wants to change in you. What I say, may be one of them. 

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Awhile back, I found a modesty blog dedicated to showing you how to wear modern day clothes modestly. I was thrilled to find someone who blogged about what I stood for and practiced to the best of my ability. After being on her wonderful blog for awhile I decided to follow her on all her social media sights her Pinterest account especially.  I love Pinterest for several reasons. It's fun, it's useful, and it's nice to find all those free ideas for crafts and homemaking on there. What I don't like is that people think that Pinterest is a place to be free in what you really feel or love in your heart. I know that this is a blunt statement. It may not be what you think you feel, but "everything you do flows from the heart." When I followed her Pinterest account I was absolutely sure that she would be safe to follow and I wouldn't have to worry about my brothers coming up behind me and being embarrassed. But man is sinful and weak. And I was wrong in being sure that she would be safe. I was dissapointed... Disappointed in the sense that once again, someone didn't practice what they preached. She taught modesty, preformed it in person, but her social account did not. Why do I tell you this story? I tell this story to illustrate the problem of societies social networks. We are a contradictory people. We say one thing, blog one thing, post one thing, on the subject of modesty (or other subjects) and yet we contradict ourselves on the next site. If we are truly about modesty it will and should show up in our social networks. We need to ask ourselves before sharing, before posting: "Is this going to glorify God? Would I wear this if I were to go before God today?" And if the answer is no, then you shouldn't share it or look at it any longer. When we look at something that we wouldn't wear without making it more modest and share it, we have failed to protect the eyes and hearts of others who look at our pins and posts.

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I write this in the hopes that you will see that our modesty standards - our christianity, needs to roll over into our social networks. I write this to remind myself  that I shouldn't blog about one thing and not obey what I preach. I do not write this is not to condemn you or the lady I mentioned above, but to help us realize what we are doing wrong, in the hopes that it will make us more like Christ. Relying and thinking on His strength and Mercy.

How to Guard Your Heart When You "Admire" Someone

It's something all girls struggle with...You see a guy, you admire his looks, his mannerism, he's a Christian, and your next thought is: "Is he the one?" A couple days later you find that you are thinking about him. You do something and think, "Will such and so like how I do this?" You talk to him shyly and try to hide that you admire him. Your heart skips a beat as you think, "maybe one day I won't have to hide that I admire him." And then the Holy Spirit says to you, "You are not thinking correctly, your mind has wandered. Wait for the man I have for you. Keep your heart and mind on Me until then." Conviction and shame now enter your mind and you try your hardest not to think about the man and how he could be "the one". The reason I know this, is because, I have struggled with it often. My -our- natural desire is for a man and we will always be on the "look out" for one. It's how God made us. He says in Genesis to the woman, "that our desire shall be for thy husband..."

Any time my mind would begin to wander, I would pray, "Lord, this is wrong thinking. My mind is going wild and I can't control it! Help!" This prayer, though prayed often wasn't cutting it.... I am NOT saying God wasn't listening to it or helping me, but I felt like I wasn't being specific enough in my prayer and in my thought life...that maybe, even though I knew it wrong, I wasn't repentant enough. Finally I came to the conclusion that I would ask my Mom. She would have some advice for me -she always does- and I know that it - whatever it was- would help. This is how she helped me and told me to pray:

• First Pray: "Lord, you know my heart better than I do. You know what's best for me. There is a man that I really admire. (Name his name) He is a Christian and there is evidence that he is. I ask Lord, that if he is the one that you would bring our marriage about quickly and that it would be glorifying to you. And that you would guard our hearts until then. If he is not the one, I ask that you would take these thoughts and feelings far from me. That you would help me to control my flesh. I also pray, that you wold help me focus more on You and what you would have for my life. Not what I would have.
• Then Pray for him. Pray that God would guard his heart and to help him prepare for marriage. That he would be focused on Christ and that he would be a strong, righteous leader of his home.
• When this has been prayed, pray for his future wife. Even if it means it's not you. Pray that whoever she is, would be a Godly young lady. That she would be strong in faith and in her role as wife, and maybe someday, mother. Pray that she would be using her single years to glorify God and preparing for marriage rightly. 
• Lastly. Pray for the parents of both of these people. That they would help their children with their walk with Christ and strengthen them on things that they need strengthening on. This may not seem important, but it is always important to pray for someone. 

Another thing. Confess your problem to your mother. (If you don't have a Godly mother, or a mother, ask one of the Ladies in your church to listen to you. If this too isn't possible, I would love for you to contact me, so that I may pray for you. We are Christians. And as such, we are to build each other up. Please don't be afraid to ask me.) ;) Tell her and your heart will be lighter. The Bible commands us to confess our sins to one another. It enables others to specifically pray for you. And "The prayer of a righteous person has great power at its working."

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16

I hope that the Lord uses this post to speak to your heart. God Bless, Petra

Twitter Post 4 - (Because Twitter doesn't do more than 140 characters.)

"Her heart was a secret garden, and the walls were very high."

This quote has been on my mind for the past week. It's made me think about how we should be guarding and protecting our hearts and our minds from the things and ideas of this world. Its made me think about how our hearts SHOULD be a garden wall.

Strong and beautiful. Full of purity and love. 

Our hearts were made to serve one man during marriage. Which means our hearts should be whole and undamaged. It means that even when you are "seeing a guy" or you "like a guy" you keep your heart & mind & body from going places it shouldn't go.Treating the man as a brother. Not something that can be caught. A heart that is torn to pieces, and then gets married causes a lot of strife and grief. Save your heart for one man. Don't wear it on your sleeve and don't let others tear it down. Our hearts should be a garden wall. One that's strong and not easily damaged. one someone can admire for it's character; one that others can lean on when they are weak; one that most of all leans on Christ and His protection.

I know its easier to say this than to preform it, but I will pray for you. Christ is our strength. All we have to do is take hold of Him, and He will guide us.