Psalm 9:9, “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
The red letters of the alarm clock scream the start of another morning. Sunday morning. Her head pounds a reminder of last night’s party. She gave into temptation again. She brushes her hair from her eyes and chokes back the bile rising in her throat. The flood gates open and she buries her face into the white pillow.
Why? Why? Why…. Why does it have to hurt so bad? Why can’t anything just be easy? Why I can’t I pull it together? It’s never going to…
“And the voice I hear falling on my ear the son of God discloses”
Oh, that song again. Why is that song constantly popping up? The same two verses over and over again… What is the rest of that song?
“And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own”
Lord, if you are walking with me and talking to me, I am listening. I’ve got nothing else to lose.
Through tear stained eyes she glances at the clock one more time.
9:45a.m. The church billboard down the road says service starts at 11am. I have just enough time to get ready.
Jesus, if you can hear me, I’m going to church today. My heart’s open to you Lord. Please, if you hear me, show me today Lord. Amen.
Before heading out the door, she takes one last glance in the mirror. She adjusts her spiked blond hair and runs her hand over the tattoo on her arm.
Should I cover it?
“I’m not going for them Lord. I am coming to be with you.” She grabs her red bag and heads to church for the first time since she was a child.
“And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known”
How do you get ready for church on Sunday morning? Do you spend more time on your appearance than you do getting your heart prepared to worship and hear His message? Do you pray to hear what He has to say to you before you leave the house? What about others in the church on Sunday? Would you find yourself judging someone with spiked hair and tattoos if they entered your building? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Blessings,
Thanks for this blog. I can relate to this in some ways…especially when I have gone shopping the Sat. before and gotten a really cute outfit. I know it sounds funny, but I do Daycare so I get STOKED to be able to get “dressed up” and go to church to show my friends my ” SCREAMING deals”. I have this feeling almost every time, however over time, my attitude has changed from being excited about telling my friends and doing it, too being excited to tell my friends and driving to church , only to remember WHY I’m going ..NOT to “Show-off” my new “SCREAMING deals”…but to Worship the Lord!!! 😉
Funny, we were just discussing last night at our bible study that sometimes on Sunday mornings we look into our closets and think… “I’ve got nothing to wear, I’m don’t want to go.” As women, we all experience this, but a quick reminder that it’s not about us gets me back on track again. We can make excuses all day long why we’re not worthy in some way and why not to go, but all He wants is us to show up with an open heart. When we’re worried about what people will think we’re not worried about what He thinks and obstacles with get in our way. When all we care about is what He thinks nothing will stop us!
Hi Melinda,
I prepare my heart and my appearance before church. God cares about our hearts but he also cares about our appearance. if you read the old testament and study how meticulously beautiful the priestly garments were and how beautifully the tabernacle was constructed with the best acacia wood, linens, gold, silver and bronze utensils, you come to realize that God cares about how we look and he is definitely involved in the details. (http://judysphotogallery.blogspot.com and http://virtuouswomanministry.blogspot.com)
Blessings,
Judy
Judy, thanks for stopping in. I’m going to agree to disagree on this subject. I think God cares more about our hearts and spirit than He does the appearance of our bodies. And WE as believers should love people for their hearts and not their outward appearances as well. What do you say to those who don’t have any nice things to wear to church? And because we are no longer bound to the law, we are the tabernacle on the inside. We should take care of our bodies but ultimately, the outside appearance is not how God is going to judge us.
And since God is the one refining our inner tabernacle, how we dress really I don’t believe should matter. If it’s important to someone else, that is perfectly fine but we need to make sure we aren’t judging others on Sunday because they are wearing jeans, or have a tattoo, or something else we personally don’t like. It’s not about us.
I hear what you’re saying, Melinda. We can “cover” over all the ugliness that is invariably in our hearts; enough to “satisfy” the fashion police. To make ourselves “presentable” to those who take great care, and even greater pride, in their appearance. I find that it’s often those who put so much time and attention to the outward appearance of themselves that are often judging the skin, clothing, hair and every outside indicator of another’s worth. That are appalled by tattoo’s and piercings and the seemingly unkempt clothing. God see’s past the painfully put together outfit, and He see’s past the markings, scars, and other outward signs of “carnality”. He’s the only one to judge His child, and tattoo and ripped jeans aside, He calls us to come to Him, JUST AS WE ARE.
Loving you sister! The Holy Spirit is moving in you.
As much as it upsets my mother, I go to church however I feel like looking on a given day. The only difference is on days when I am speaking because then I want to present myself as someone the congregation will take seriously and listen to. My mom about had a heart attack when I told her that one day I had gone to church in Crocs that she made me throw out later that same day because they were so old. The truth was, I was running late and they were the first shoes I could find.
Good for you Heather! The important part is that you went, not that you wore worn out crocs 🙂
Hi Mel:
A pastor once said, “Come as you are.” I understand that to mean, it doesn’t matter who we are or how we dress like. We go and prepare our hearts to worship Him and Him alone and we are not there to please anyone.
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Ga 1:10)
Blessings,
Paul
Amen Paul! I was just thinking last night that I haven’t talked with you in a while! Need to pop over and visit your blogs 🙂 Oh and my ebook will be ready for your site very soon!
In Him,
Mel
Sundays are tough days, getting all the boys dressed casual nice. Mornings tend to be battle ground times all over casual wear. You’d think after 24 years of being a mom, I would have this worked out. I think we’ve all finally found a comfortable solution – only time will tell:)
I have to say, I am surprised to see so many comments addressing the “appearance issue”. As I read this post, I was touched my the young lady’s heart. How hurt she is on the inside, numbing a pain on Sat night but still reaching out, desperately needing God. How sad that people feel that they can not go to church b/c of their outward appearance.