This past week was Spring Break and i had the privilege to go to Destin, FL with UT Young Life. i had heard stories about how amazing it would be.. this year was the biggest group yet to go, and God definitely showed up in incredibly big ways.
He was especially present to me personally because of a little choice my friend and i made– we broke the norm and wore one-pieces on the beach all week. Maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal but in my mind it was a hard sacrifice. Why did we do it? i asked myself every time i saw a cute bikini and passed the area where girls tanned each day. Before the trip, it took me a while to really believe that it wasn't pointless or crazy but once i wrote out my thoughts, prayed, and talked to a couple of my guy friends, i felt firm in my reasoning. i was doing it for guys, for girls, and for myself. Guys can't help but be visual– something i may not know much about but i do know enough to feel convicted to help them out. Wearing a one-piece can help relieve the battle that's so present in their minds. "To us there is no difference between you in your underwear and you in your bikini. It's hard to see a girl in a bikini and think, 'wow God is great' and start worshiping Him." i'm so thankful for my friends' honesty because with how normal bikinis are, it's so easy to forget the overall image. i hesitated in the decision because i was afraid of appearing condescending, like other girls in two-pieces didn't care about their brothers in Christ as much as i did– which is completely false. But after going through this week i can joyfully and confidently say that my original uncertainty was irrelevant, because since i figured out why i was doing what i was doing i had no fear and God filled me with assurance, which overflowed and showed my motivation. That's why i never felt like i was coming off as self-righteous: a response which would have only pushed people away.
Another reason to wear my one-piece was directed at girls. We may not be quite so visual, but comparison can be equally as sinful and destructive as lusting. Looking through the windows of Victoria's Secret at huge posters of barely-clothed women can make a girl compare herself and wish she looked differently. In Ephesians 2 Paul says, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." So comparing ourselves and wishing we look different is criticizing our Lord's artwork that He cherishes and finds great joy in. It's like a slap in His face! Or looking at someone else could have the opposite affect; it would still cause comparison but in a prideful way– for example, a subconscious thought of, "i'm in better shape than she is." Comparison and pride. What a deadly combination.
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
- Colossians 3:5,17
Whether you look at someone else and feel better or worse about yourself, it is all destructive because we are putting our worth in it. That makes appearance an idol: something that holds more importance to us than Jesus. Last year there is no way i would've sacrificed my two-pieces, and i can't promise that i always will, but by doing it now maybe God spoke through me.. a message about not being of this world and about loving others above myself by not wearing something that could potentially hurt someone's heart. i definitely had to rely on Jesus this past week because if He wasn't the center of my focus i would have failed. i had to make sure i was not envying other girls for cute swim suits or attention from guys. i couldn't be prideful and i couldn't doubt myself. Hopefully someone appreciated what i did but if not, i still got to challenge myself for the Lord. And it was fun! i may have gotten weird tan lines but i spent my time playing and not worrying about what i looked like. Kind of a freeing feeling.
"i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:8
i agree with Paul's statement above. The gains of the world equal a loss to me because of how great the gains are when i'm living for Jesus.
He was especially present to me personally because of a little choice my friend and i made– we broke the norm and wore one-pieces on the beach all week. Maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal but in my mind it was a hard sacrifice. Why did we do it? i asked myself every time i saw a cute bikini and passed the area where girls tanned each day. Before the trip, it took me a while to really believe that it wasn't pointless or crazy but once i wrote out my thoughts, prayed, and talked to a couple of my guy friends, i felt firm in my reasoning. i was doing it for guys, for girls, and for myself. Guys can't help but be visual– something i may not know much about but i do know enough to feel convicted to help them out. Wearing a one-piece can help relieve the battle that's so present in their minds. "To us there is no difference between you in your underwear and you in your bikini. It's hard to see a girl in a bikini and think, 'wow God is great' and start worshiping Him." i'm so thankful for my friends' honesty because with how normal bikinis are, it's so easy to forget the overall image. i hesitated in the decision because i was afraid of appearing condescending, like other girls in two-pieces didn't care about their brothers in Christ as much as i did– which is completely false. But after going through this week i can joyfully and confidently say that my original uncertainty was irrelevant, because since i figured out why i was doing what i was doing i had no fear and God filled me with assurance, which overflowed and showed my motivation. That's why i never felt like i was coming off as self-righteous: a response which would have only pushed people away.
Another reason to wear my one-piece was directed at girls. We may not be quite so visual, but comparison can be equally as sinful and destructive as lusting. Looking through the windows of Victoria's Secret at huge posters of barely-clothed women can make a girl compare herself and wish she looked differently. In Ephesians 2 Paul says, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." So comparing ourselves and wishing we look different is criticizing our Lord's artwork that He cherishes and finds great joy in. It's like a slap in His face! Or looking at someone else could have the opposite affect; it would still cause comparison but in a prideful way– for example, a subconscious thought of, "i'm in better shape than she is." Comparison and pride. What a deadly combination.
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
- Colossians 3:5,17
Whether you look at someone else and feel better or worse about yourself, it is all destructive because we are putting our worth in it. That makes appearance an idol: something that holds more importance to us than Jesus. Last year there is no way i would've sacrificed my two-pieces, and i can't promise that i always will, but by doing it now maybe God spoke through me.. a message about not being of this world and about loving others above myself by not wearing something that could potentially hurt someone's heart. i definitely had to rely on Jesus this past week because if He wasn't the center of my focus i would have failed. i had to make sure i was not envying other girls for cute swim suits or attention from guys. i couldn't be prideful and i couldn't doubt myself. Hopefully someone appreciated what i did but if not, i still got to challenge myself for the Lord. And it was fun! i may have gotten weird tan lines but i spent my time playing and not worrying about what i looked like. Kind of a freeing feeling.
"i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:8
i agree with Paul's statement above. The gains of the world equal a loss to me because of how great the gains are when i'm living for Jesus.
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