Clothed in Strength and Dignity... and Perhaps an Animal Print.

One of the things that we hear more often than not is that we must guard our ears, eyes, and heart from earthly things.  To an extent that is true; however, we have to acknowledge that pop-culture is everywhere!  We are inundated with images and words that are not necessarily "Christian."  So what's a girl to do?  

The answer?  

Use it to our advantage, of course!  

Check out this YouTube video.  Then read this scripture. 

The music video and Proverbs 31:25 actually mesh well together and could be a positive message for us to come back to again and again, especially when we get down in the trenches of all of the not-so-fun stuff. 

Proverbs 31:25 says, “She is clothed in strength and dignity, she laughs without fear of the future” (Or “she laughs at the days to come” depending on the version you use).  But I think that this verse requires a little bit of context.  Obviously we are looking at one of the passages that defines a Godly woman.  These verses have become quite popular recently because they are an encouragement to women and a reminder of what we should strive for as women of faith.  

The thing that strikes me about this verse is that the definition describes a woman that does not innately or internally possess strength and dignity; rather, she is clothed in them.  It is something that she intentionally puts on to face whatever the devil throws at her.  The thing to focus on is intentionality.

Truth time:  Sometimes I find it incredibly difficult to be gracious and dignified.  And I am certain that I am not alone.  It is so easy to gossip, decide to put work off, let pride slip in, etc. 

Dignity literally means: "a state of being worthy of honor.”  — and there are many times when my actions do not make me worthy of honor.  I think that’s why God put strength and dignity together in this verse.  It takes both, and you have to literally make the conscious choice to cloak yourself with these two things daily— and when you do, man, does it feel good to be a Godly woman! 

So then, Katy Perry.   I love this song.  It’s all about girl power and making the best of what is before you.  And I think it sends the same message (albeit in a more secular way) as Proverbs 31:25.  That is, I can be strong and I can be worthy of honor— it’s a choice that I make daily.  The first stanza says:

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath

Scared to rock the boat and make a mess

So I sat quietly, agreed politely

I guess that I forgot I had a choice

I let you push me past the breaking point

I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

Make the “you” the “devil” and woah— what a song, right?  Now look at the chorus: 

I got the eye of the tiger, the fire
Dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar!

She makes the choice to fight back— she adjusts herself (in the video physically and mentally) to take on whatever the jungle throws at her!  She’s got the eye of the tiger, she’s louder than a lion, she is champion!  And, while she could have sat there in the jungle, and perhaps have been eaten by wild animals, she intentionally chooses to get up, put on her strength and dignity..... 

and paints an elephant’s toenails!  

She tames a tiger and names him Kitty Purry!  

She wins the race set before her!

(Hebrews 12:1)