Fashioned Forward
I love shoes. No really. I love shoes! And accessories make the outfit! A simple black dress becomes epic with the right shoe, the perfect handbag, and jewelry! Since I was a young girl, I delighted in clomping around in my mother’s high heels, rooting through her jewelry box and piling on the glimmer. Playing dress up wasn’t child’s play for me, it was business. As a teen, I would often buy a pair of shoes that caught my eye, and then build an outfit around it. It was the perfect excuse to put those new shoes on display on the runway of life! As an adult, I beeline to the shoe department of any store with high hopes, knowing a shoe sale can make this girl’s day much brighter. And getting rid of an old, worn-out, well-loved pair of shoes, is like parting with an old friend. Ok, maybe that’s being a bit dramatic…!
No matter the outfit, the right pair of shoes provides purpose.
You certainly wouldn’t wear heels to the gym to run on the treadmill! And I know you wouldn’t dare wear your slippers to a job interview! You know better than that! We gals have unwritten rules of what shoes look best with certain hemlines and pant lengths. Even the heel height can make or break the overall look! As fashion trends change and even repeat themselves, we too must be willing to embrace the new styles of soles. And as we age, our feet desire a slightly lower and softer plane to walk upon.
Ephesians 2:10 beautifully reminds us that “we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
Consider that the Lord has already made the perfect pair of shoes for you. In fact, He hand-selected this pair long ago. They are polished, of high quality, the perfect size and ready to wear! Each of us has been given a different and uniquely tailor-made pair of shoes for the assignments He has called us to.
One shoe changed Cinderella’s life. What are you sliding on?
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news (Is 52:7/Romans 10:15). I think slipping on a suede pink pump is the way to march out and herald that good news of Jesus! (Hey, in a world of flats, be a stiletto!) So, maybe a three-inch heel isn’t your style. The Lord knows that!
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13.
If you are a sneaker girl, you may ‘run the race’ at a bit steadier pace than the rest of us. If you tend to need an orthopedic shoe, perhaps God has placed a heart of compassion in you to see the needs of others. If you lace up a ballet slipper, you have the ease of dancing your way through life’s decisions and circumstances in praise! You will be able to help others see life with your perspective that God is in control. And all you flip-flop girls, you will happily minister to anyone, poolside! As the seasons of our life change, so might our shoes. Try not to become too attached to an old pair if the Lord has something new for you to try on. If Cinderella never put on that glass slipper, things would have remained the same. But by being daring enough to wear a fragile shoe that could shatter any second, she trusted the process and came into perfection. Don’t miss out on the purposes and plans He has for your life.
He’s appointed you to go.
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…” John 15:16a.
This verse is so uplifting and yet so humbling. Jesus picked you to be on His team. You were outfitted down to your soles (and your soul) to do the work of the Kingdom. Your pair of shoes may need to be “broken in.” At first, the shoe could feel snug, even though it’s made to fit you like a glove. Trust the Father’s great design and keep walking. Soon His perfect pair for you will become your favorite accessory.
So, point those toes, and with your best foot forward, be fashioned in Christ with His purposes and plans in your sightlines!
