Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4
3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Observation: True beauty is a state of heart and a state of mind, not merely an outward appearance.
Application: I should focus more on making my heart right and on God’s plan and wishes for me rather than what clothes to wear and my physical appearance.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your will is that I become truly beautiful, focusing on you and living with a gentle and quiet spirit-not that I conform to the world’s image of beauty. Please guide me in aligning my thoughts that I may see me as you do and that I may increase my desire to grow in the beauty you see, not in the beauty this world covets.
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Last night I began packing for a trip. Every time I do this, I pull out all the potential clothes and think about how I can be comfortable and look nice while traveling and while at my destination. And inevitably, I always find holes in my wardrobe and wonder how ever I could look nice using just what is in my closet.
And I have a pretty well-stocked closet, my friends, so this is ridiculous.
Sure, it is nice to look nice, but how much importance should I be placing on that? How much time do I spend every day putting together what I will wear? And how much time do I spend criticizing my ‘shortcomings,’ wishing my body was more toned, smaller here and there, and wondering what image I am projecting.
Isn’t the image I am projecting from my spirit more important? And really, is it even up to me to judge?
God is telling us right here that what is important is inner beauty: He says that a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s sight. He clearly says that beauty does not come from the way we wear our hair, our jewelry or even fine clothes.
Sure, you and I might think that all those things contribute to beauty. And all those others around us with whom we are trying to fit in, and possibly impress, may feel that way, too. But God speaks the truth.
Go ahead take care of your exterior, just realize that is not where you will ever be truly beautiful, so don’t spend too much time and effort there.
Instead, focus your efforts on living as God designed you and as He wishes: Exercise your heart and your mind. And achieve a gentle and quiet spirit through Christ. Then you will be beautiful in God’s sight. And isn’t that the best?
No, it won’t be easy. I see myself as the world sees me (or as I think the world sees me). And it’s not realistic to assume that I will be able to give zero thought to outward appearance anytime soon.
Perhaps I could say I prayer every time I find myself worrying if my appearance matches up with those around me, asking God to remind me of what he sees as true beauty. And asking Him to mold me in that form and experience the transformation.
This sounds easy, but it’s a tough one. I’ll be praying for you (and me).
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