"BIBLE STUDIES FOR LADIES OF FAITH "

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CLOTHES
by Vicki Sturgill

Many women spend a lot time on Sunday deciding what they will wear to church. The blue outfit, because blue is “your color” the color consultant said. Long, short, comfortable, all are weighed in the balance as the woman opens the closet door. We are reminded of the words that God spoke to Samuel at the time David was anointed as the next king: “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7b)
It is not the clothes that we should be taking care to choose rightly as we prepare to go to God́s house. The real preparation needs to take place in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 5:1a reminds us to “ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God”. Solomon is saying that we need to consider the reason we are going to God́s House, and to prepare ourselves for the time we will spend worshipping God. Someone has said that we only get out of a worship service what we invest in it.
The real key to receiving a blessing from the worship service is how well we are prepared to worship the Lord. The wife/ mother is very important in determining the worship life of the family in God́s house. If she is in a bad mood at worship time, so is the entire family. Preparation for the Sunday worship must begin long before Sunday morning and is completed as the family walks in the door of the church.
Examine the following things that hinder the worship of your family:
1. There should be no discussion as to whether we WILL go to church. That should have been settled when you gave yourself to the Lord. If you have to decide on Sunday, you will find many obstacles in the way and will often decide there is no way possible for you to go to church.
2. No clean clothes, childreńs shoes are lost, the husband has no clean dress shirts. As the one responsible for having clothes ready for use, the wife/mother should make sure on Saturday that everything is ready. I am reminded of my own Mother. My sister and I had a custom of removing our shoes as soon as possible. Shoes were our public enemy No. 1. Every Saturday my mother began the search for our Sunday shoes. They were found under chairs, beds, in the car and numerous other places. Having clothes ready for each member of the family prevents frustrations on Sunday mornings and Mom can go to church in peace.
3. Bibles and Sunday School material should be conveniently placed and ready to go on Sunday. No last minute searches and frustrations.
4. Staying up late for parties, watching TV or such activities can hinder your worship. To give our full attention to God́s Word on Sunday, we need to be rested. Remember to put God first on Saturday so you can enjoy fellowship with Him on Sunday.
5. Unforgiven sin, anger at the husband or children, bad attitudes towards the pastor or members of the congregation all hinder our worship. Seek out a time early Sunday morning to pray for the pastor, the service, the sermon, the music, but most of all, go to the Lord́s house with a pure heart remembering that God hears the prayers of those with a pure heart.
Yes, as women, we put great importance on looking our best and certainly God expects us to be well-groomed, modest and a good testimony in dress, but He is also looking for hearts that are beautiful and giving forth the fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galations 5:22 and 23.
May we be as the Psalmist when he said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

08/31/2007
Vol.1 - No.2

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