And how do we teach it to our girls without resorting to weird, arbitrary, legalistic rules?
What is modesty in the Bible?
Biblical modesty is a big topic.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) says:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Glorifying God in our bodies is a part of modesty. So, too, is being humble about the attributes and skills the Lord has given us to steward for his kingdom.
Philippians 2:3 (ESV) says:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Both our boys and our girls need to understand biblical modesty.
What is modesty for girls?
I’m always a little skeptical when I come across a resource on biblical modesty.
I wonder if it will address a modest heart. Will it talk about following God because we love him, or will it set forth legalistic rules? Will it stick to Scripture, or will it veer into moralism?
On the other hand, I worry too about whether something I’m going to read about modesty will completely dismiss the idea of biblical modesty altogether. Will it ignore the importance of modesty for our girls–and for us? Will I read something that will appeal to my flesh and encourage a return to my past sins?
I know–that’s a lot to have go through my head before I click a link or pick up a book. Yet, it does. Every time.
Modesty is important because it’s in the Bible. It’s there for both men and women, but we’re just talking about modesty for girls today.
Modesty in the Bible deals with more than the length of our shorts (or whether we wear shorts). Modesty in the Bible also covers how we look physically. It’s not just about our attitudes.
Biblical modesty explained
A Beautiful Mystery: What’s Up with Modesty? (Christian Focus Publications, 2020) by Heather Thieneman is appropriate for girls in elementary school through the tween years. This 107-page, 12-chapter book allows your daughter to become a Bible detective.
With engaging writing, colorful pages, and room to journal, A Beautiful Mystery: What’s Up with Modesty? explores important topics relating to being modest.
Topics covered include:
- Your daughter is wonderfully made by a God who loves her.
- The ugliness of sin–and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Comparison is a thief.
- Inner vs. outer beauty. Our humility affects our loveliness.
- Why we wear clothes and being clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
- Covering and protecting private parts.
- Biblical modesty. What is real modesty?
- Men, women, and marriage in God’s design.
- Temptation and how to deal with it. Boys who want you to be immodest.
- Clothing that honors private parts. Dying to self.
- Waiting for a husband.
- Wearing God’s righteousness.
Heather Thieneman, who works at a Christian school, has put together a wonderful resource for Christian families to use with their girls. The book is designed to allow girls to write verses and thoughts in each chapter.
I love the fact that Thieneman addresses biblical modesty without getting overly involved in rules and regulations. She does state that private parts should be covered in a way that honors them, so they’re not showing or emphasized. Really, she works on getting to the heart of modesty and what the Bible says about it. And isn’t that what we want our girls to know?
I love the fact that the book is colorful and modern, with both photographs and cartoon girls. I love, love, love the diversity of the cartoon girls–one is even in a wheelchair. (My sister was in a wheelchair, and I rarely see that in kids’ books!)
I highly recommend A Beautiful Mystery: What’s Up with Modesty? for your girls!
Purchase A Beautiful Mystery: What’s Up With Modesty?
A Beautiful Mystery: What’s Up With Modesty?
Teach Kids About Life in the Womb
Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth
Your kids will love learning about life inside the womb with Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth, published by Christian Focus 4 Kids.
Wonderfully Made is a science- and Scripture-filled picture book for kids ages 5-11. The book is told from the perspective of a mother telling her child about his or her development in the womb week-by-week. In fact, Wonderfully Made is written to help parents meet the theological, scientific, and relational purposes of teaching kids about life in the womb.
Learn more about Wonderfully Made over at the book page.
Head over to the Thinking Kids Press store for your free Wonderfully Made posters, Bible memory verse cards, and lapbook!
They’re a great companion to the book Wonderfully Made, and the perfect way to teach your kids about life in the womb!
Autographed from Danika Cooley: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
Amazon: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
Amazon UK: Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth
Christian Book: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
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This book sounds perfect for this momma of 3 girls!!
Looks great for my tween!
It isn’t always easy coming up with the right words to explain modesty. I have 3 girls who are getting to the age where I want to teach them how to be modest.
Thank you for the chance to win! I teach my girls about modesty and am thankful that they are comfortable enough with that conversation topic to notify me if my shirt is down too low when I lean forward, etc.
I’m excited as this is something my husband and I were just discussing the other day, especially with what’s happening in the world. Perfect way to reinforce our beliefs and teach in a nonconfrontational way.
i love everything here.
Thank you, Donna! ~ Danika
Thank you for sharing about this resource. I am always looking for biblical voices to reinforce what I’m trying to teach my daughter.
This looks amazing! Something I am try to teach my girls. I was never taught modesty, and wish I would have. This is definitely on my school book list.
I have been wanting a book to teach my girls about biblical modesty! My oldest seems to follow my lead naturally but my next one tends to do the exact opposite! I want to fill her with Truth as to why she should be modest. This looks like a great tool!
I struggled so much with this with my older children so it’s wonderful to have so many more resources for handling it with my younger ones.
My daughter will soon be 11 and I have been looking for a book like this!
We totally believe in modesty. It’s nice to see a book about it for girls.
This is wonderful. I’ll be checking this out whether we won or not. I so appreciate you alerting me when there are great resources out there for raising my kiddos that I may not have seen otherwise. What you do is a blessing!
That means so much to me, Steph. Thank you for telling me! ~ Danika
This looks like a good resource
I’m excited to see how this is presented. It is such an important topic and very seldom taught well. I want my daughters to understand it.
Modesty has been sadly set aside by too many Christians. The distinction between Christians and others is often displayed in their modesty. Thank you for the tools to explain the Biblical importance of modesty.
I love this! I have three girls and believe in modesty, and also wanted something that didn’t go to either extreme of legalism or license. If we don’t win this contest I will be picking up this book!
I appreciate that this book is directed toward younger girls without being too in depth. I have a six-year-old who is homeschooled, so she is more protected than some girls her age, but being with friends from various walks does expose her to some things. Reading through a book like this together could spark or reinforce conversations about those friends and her either semblance or difference to their behavior without exposing her too much to the topic.
Also appreciate that it’s less about rules and more about the heart. Absolutely essential to understand the why and where her heart is before examining how that might be reflected in her wardrobe.
Sounds like a great modern yet solid biblical take on modesty. The books seems very interactive which definitely helps the information ‘stick’.
We love the wonderfully made book.
That is so wonderful to hear, Katie. Thank you! ~ Danika
This would be perfect for my daughter! It looks like it is put together really well and I love that is it biblical!
I love your website!!! It has so many great ways to teach our children about the bible! I’m so glad I had the chance to meet you at the conference!!
I’m so glad you are getting a lot out of the resources here at Thinking Kids, Nichole. I’m glad we met too! ~ Danika
Thanks for the blog post and the give away.
I’ve been looking for a good resource on modesty. Thanks!
I’m excited to read this book with my daughter. It sounds like just what we’re looking for.
I like how simply modesty is addressed in a biblical way without it seeming overbearing. Sounds like a great resource!
What a great giveaway! I’ve never heard of this book but am always wanting to find new ways to teach our children a Biblical perspective on modesty.
I have several girls I would love this for.
As a mom of 3 girls as well, this would be a perfect addition to our morning time!
Thanks for doing a giveaway and thanks for doing a book on modesty (very needed these days).
This a beautiful book for young ladies.
Marion
What an amazing resource! I have 3 girls and am in the process of teaching them about what modesty is and why it is important.
Thanks for offering the giveaway!
Wonderful book, Curious to know
What a wonderful idea to have a book like this for young girls to teach them early about taking care to wear what is appropriate and respectful.
I think this will be a great book for all of my granddaughters to read.
I want to get this for my daughter, so she can read it. This is great, thank you.
This would be a timely book for my daughter
I have a strong willed tween and would like this book for helps to navigate the coming years!
Would love to have a copy of this book for my daughter!
This sounds perfect for our family with 2 girls!