Clothed with Grace: Challenge

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Challenge

Another thing I took away from the Belong Tour was a quote by Angela Davis, a fitness and faith motivator. She said, "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I think we all have things we'd like to do better, but change doesn't just happen. We have to work for it. If we know we have been given a gift my God, it's our job to use it. Sometimes it can seem easy, and sometimes it can seem really, really hard. 

There is just magic in the process though. When you're in the middle of change, it sure doesn't always seem fun, but when you look at where you've come from to where you are know, it's pretty amazing.  

Take for example, the choice to make daily devotions a priority. When I started doing this a few years back, it was definitely a challenge. I really enjoy my sleep, so getting up an extra half hour early was not my idea of fun, but once it became a habit, the days I didn't do it felt dramatically different. It both challenged me and then changed me! 

Sometimes we can feel like we just can't stop hearing that little whisper in our ear for the area in our lives we need to change, and it won't stop until we finally decide to listen.  That can be so scary, but God is with us every step of the way. He says in Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." So, if God is with us, who can be against us? Is there something God is calling you do it? Now it the time to do it, for without challenge there is not change.


Today I am wearing another outfit where nothing is new. Honestly, I'll be doing a lot of this from now on. I'll do my best to link similar pieces, but I need new clothes like a whole in the head. I actually have been getting rid of a lot lately that have been sitting, unworn. Since so many things went unworn due to my pregnancy, I have a lot of clothes that feel new and a lot I didn't miss, so it was time to let them go.

There was a time in my blogging past where I felt like I needed to be showing new stuff all the time, well that day has come and gone. Reality is, most people don't get more than a few (if any) new things each month, and I'm "most people." I hope this is ok! I still like to show fashion and hope you can be inspired to create something similar with pieces in your own closet.



jacket: Gap via thredUp (Use this link for $10 off your first purchase.)
Top: Merona same
Skirt: JCrew Factory similar
Earrings: Nickel and Suede
Necklace: Stella and Dot
Wedges: Steve Madden c/o similar



9 comments:

  1. Such a lovely outfit. And, I don't need to see anything new, and I certainly don't show new things on my blog all the time either. I rarely run out and buy something just because I saw another blogger wear it. I usually just get inspiration to mix and match within my own closet, just like you said.

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  2. Love this whole outfit! I'm always mixing and matching the pieces in my closet- so looks like this are great inspiration!

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  3. That is such a good reminder. I need to be challenged with my eating and work outs to be changed.

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  4. This is a great outfit for the end of summer. I don't get a ton of new stuff often.
    http://tresfly.blogspot.com/

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  5. I honestly find that I enjoy the blogs the most that DON'T FEATURE brand new stuff all the time. I prefer creativity to excess. Thank you for your creativity.

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  6. Love this outfit! I use the same clothes I've had for years. I will purchase new things from time to time, but I don't have the money to buy new things all the time. I just work with what I have. I also am fortunate to get hand-me-downs, so that makes me feel like I have "new" things. :)
    Unique Geek

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  7. I love this skirt and I don't really like skirts. Very cute outfit. I love your new approach and look forward to seeing more of your closet and more ways to wear what we already have, but differently.

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    1. Thanks! New all the time is so not necessary!

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