I’m getting ready to do this – hoping to switch out the clothes this week or next. Along with the process of making the switch, I’ll be trying on things (hoping they still fit, or are even a little big this year… a girl can dream, can’t she???). And, I’ll be doing the ONE MOST IMPORTANT FASHION TIP EVER – praying. I’m serious!
Here’s how I stumbled upon this amazing fashion secret:
Years ago, when I was in the 6th grade, I had one of those “luminescent moments” and realized that since God made my hair, and kept count of the numbers of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:30), He could help me fix it every day. (I’m thankful for it now, but I have difficult hair – curly, thick, coarse, and especially back then, totally big.) It took about 30 minutes to blow it dry each day, and I couldn’t communicate with anyone during that time, so I started spending that time talking to the Lord. One day I asked Him if He would help me fix my hair… and He did! I started having good hair days on a frequent basis.
By the time I got in the 7th grade, I promised the Lord that if He would fix my hair, I’d give Him the glory for it. He has kept His end of the bargain, and I’ve tried to keep mine. For all of these years, God has helped me fix my hair each morning – in giving me ideas, or by just plain making it move a certain way. I get hair compliments from strangers almost every time I go out of the house. They’ll say something like “I love your hair… who does it?” and I’ll say something like “Thank you so much. Actually, Kellye cuts and colors it and God helps me fix it every day.”
That usually gets one of three responses – Sometimes they get it – and we rejoice in how wonderful the Lord is that He cares about us – to the tiniest detail, OR, they look at me with this glazed expression and say “how nice” and walk away. OR they look puzzled and want to know more. I then get to tell them about how God cares about the things that we care about, because He loves us so much. I can promise them that God is big enough to take care of the major needs of the world and still keep count of the number of hairs on each of our heads, and that there is nothing too small to bring to Him.
God has used my hair to draw me into many deep conversations with strangers that become all about Him and His care of our lives. Often those strangers and I have ended up crying together and bowing our heads in the middle of grocery store aisles while they lay burdens before the Lord. God can use anything, can’t He??? PTL!
SO, when I realized that the Lord was doing such a great job of fixing my hair, I started asking Him to dress me, too. Listen… I truly believe that whatever is on our minds, we need to invite Him to be a part of it, and let Him help guide us as we mentally process whatever it is. For me and this time of year, I’ve got fall fashion on a portion of my brain. If you do too, here’s how the Lord helps me dress and stay “current”:
1. I look through fashion magazines in waiting rooms, the library, or wherever I find them, and try to get a feel for the common denominators in the clothing and accessories trends.
2. I check the internet fashion websites to see what was on the runway for the season. {updated for 2009}Here is a summary of 10 fall fashion trends from Elle Magazine. (And can I just say – I’m thrilled about the shoulder pads coming back, but not so much a lot of the other “80’s looks). Also, I’m not endorsing anything you happen to see while you’re there… Just letting you know a few of the fashion trends.) 😉
3. Realizing that what is in the magazines and on the runways is not what will look “normal” in my middle-class-suburban-stay-at-home-wife-mom-Bible-teacher-life, I classify the trends in categories of clothing I would actually wear.
While I’m doing this, I’m doing it with the Lord, often talking through these things out-loud to Him, as if He’s sitting with me (which actually… He is right there with me).
4. Then WE (He and I) go through my clothes for the new season. He totally does this with me. We pull out the clothes and I try them on.
5. Remembering the trend categories, I’ll pray for wisdom to make “new” outfits out of old clothes. I don’t audibly hear this, but the Lord will put ideas in my mind, and I’ll try them on, with shoes and accessories.
6. Usually, I’ll “need” a few pieces to update my wardrobe from the previous year. I’ll write down what I need in my prayer journal on a page called “Requests and Wish Lists”. Then I let it go. I give it to the Lord, and ask Him to provide those pieces of clothing / shoes / accessories IF He will be glorified through them. Sometimes I feel led to write a price beside the item. It’s so much fun to see the Lord provide in such specific ways. Sometimes He’ll provide what I’ve asked for, and sometimes He doesn’t. When He doesn’t provide, I find that I really didn’t need it anyway.
7. I don’t go out and spend lots of money on clothing. I give the needs to the Lord, and then I wait to see how He leads me to find the items I need. Often, I can pick something up at Target or Wal Mart, or Ross’ or Khols on sale or clearance. One piece at a time, the Lord builds my “current” wardrobe. Sometimes I’ll be drawn to go to Goodwill and look around. When I obey and go when the Lord leads me to, I find just what was on the list. Occasionally someone will share their “hand me overs” with me, and something I’ve prayed for will be among those clothes. Our God is creative with His provisions!
8. Everyday (or night), I stand at my closet and ask the Lord to help me know what to wear. He guides my eyes and hands and helps me choose the outfit de jour.
I may not look “perfect” to everyone else, but when the Lord has helped me dress and fix my hair, the responsibility for how I look is up to Him, and I don’t have to worry over it anymore. I can leave my house knowing that He has dressed me spiritually (in my quiet time with Him), and physically.
After I get ready with His help, having done the best I can with what I’ve been given, I say Psalm 90:17 to the Lord: Let Your beauty be upon me, and establish the work of my hands. I’m then free to go about my day, confident of His handiwork in and upon my life.
Matthew 6:24-34 sums up what I’ve taken way too many paragraphs to say. No matter how big or little it seems, God can take care of it. Our job is to seek Him first, and all these other things will fall into place. Seeking Him first – even for our fall wardrobes – takes all of the worry out of it. We can trust Him to dress us in the way where He receives the glory – and we’ll be current and beautiful like the lilies.
(24) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (25) Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (26) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (27) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
(28) And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29) Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (30) If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
(31) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Question: Do you ask the Lord to help you do things like this? Does He help you dress, shop, cook, drive, park, etc? If so, please leave a comment and let’s celebrate how God helps us in the details of daily life.
If you’ve never thought that God cared about these things before, or you never wanted to “bother” Him with the little stuff, I challange you to try it. You’re not bothering Him. Ask Him to help you in the little things, and you’ll see Him being involved in your life in a big way! (Then, please come back and tell us about it! 🙂 )
Much love to you beautiful and fashionable lilies~
(Reposted from September 22, 2008)
I didn't even pray about a need for jeans for my daughter for this winter, but God knew the need. He led me to a Goodwill store today. They had five great pairs in her size. All nice brands, too. I spent less than I would have on one new pair for the five pairs. God provides!
Hey girl, we are such kindred spirits. This is exactly some of the methods I use to go through my closet each season. I don't pray over my hair but moving away from Stephanie…may bring that change about. Hee hee.
I really enjoyed reading your post today!
Great ideas and what a Great God!
Melanie@Bella~Mella
Oh girl, I am so on this! I love it! You know my hair issues, I don't know why I didn't think of this myself, it makes perfect sense! THanks for the tips!
Hi Jennifer, I left something for you back at my blog:)
http://homespunkitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway.html
Blessings,
Cara
Have mercy…
After reading this I would qualify myself as a woman in desperate need of help along these lines. I went through my closet this past weekend; not so much to see what I need (a quick inventory told me I needed nothing), but rather to get rid of stuff I haven't worn in ages and to de-clutter my life a bit. I do usually buy a few things for the new year, but very little. The budget doesn't allow.
I also take time to review fashion trends in magazines should I happen to be in the place where I can buy something new; I do want to look my best and need to pay more attention to this area of my personal grooming.
Thanks for this.
peace~elaine
This is such a great post! It's great to be reminded that even the little things in our lives God cares about. I love that the 80's looks are back in style, too.
Jane
What an interesting post this was Jennifer. I never asked the Lord about things like this but maybe I need to begin. I'm fortunate to have several classic outfits that I purchased years ago and they never go out of style. Living in Phoenix, I get to wear warmer clothes for only about two or three months but the rest of the year, it's pretty casual and cool.
As a stay-at-home Mom, I've had to ask God for clothes a few times when my wardrobe was very low. My mother-in-law was the instrument of the answer once, when she gave me a load of hand-me-downs. Another time, my neighbor was the way God answered, when she gave me lots of sweaters. Each time, God answered with the very things I needed. In addition, God moved someone to give us a brand-new washer and dryer when a friend and I had been praying for one for me, so I wouldn't have to carry my newborn to the laundromat. The instruments of these answers did not know I had prayed for these needs. God does work in all areas of our lives! My family has never been without anything we needed. Praise the Lord!
What a fabulous post! I have honestly never thought about asking him to help with my hair or clothes, but guess what I will be doing now??!! When my husband and I got married, I had NO idea how to cook. None. Nada. So I would pray that somehow the Lord would help me learn, and now cooking is my passion. I love knowing that the love I have for my family comes through the food I make. I love knowing that my girls are involved in helping me cook, and they also will learn how to cook:)
Blessings,
Cara