Lately, I've been doing a study on beauty (see below for link for this fab book I'm going through) and God has been renewing my mind and reminding me of the true source of beauty and how the world distorts it.
How and where to obtain beauty...
True Beauty comes from Him
If we keep believing that beauty comes from somewhere other than from God's hand we will always be dissappointed and let down. Always. We must know that God is the Creator and He says you're beautiful BECAUSE He created you!
Psalm 139:14 :"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
True Beauty is Internal
1 Samuel 16:7 : "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Peter 3:3-4 : "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, 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."
True beauty has absolutely nothing to do with what your appearance. God's not against wearing makeup but instead challenges us to look at our hearts. Do I For long for physical beauty more than God's definition beauty? Do I find my worth in Jesus or in how "attractive" I look? Am I controlled by [trying to achieve] physical beauty or the Holy Spirit?
This bondage to beauty is a common struggle for most women and the truth is being set free only happens once we let go of the lie that true beauty lies in the external appearances.
.True Beauty is Eternal and results in Eternal Rewards
Proverbs 31:3 :"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
1 Timothy 4:8 : "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."
Jesus doesn't desire us to wear "cute outfits" but he does desire soft obedient hearts that desire more of Him. Hearts that know that the external rewards of true beauty outweight the momentary "Rewards" of physical beauty?
Beauty looks like God!
Galatians 5:22-23 : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. "
Can I say that Jesus is most Beautiful person to ever walk the earth. If we believed this then we would run to His Word to find out how to become "truly beautiful".The Fruit of the Spirit manifested in us is beauty!It's the most Beautiful Man Christ Jesus living through us! Let us display His beautiful Character.
It's so much easier for us to automatically go for the easy" stuff to make us "beautiful" & "worthy" but the only garment that truly matters is His robe of Righteousness and the most beautiful red we can ever don is the Blood of Jesus.
Beauty has to do less with me. And more with Him.
Let's look to Jesus to be [truly] beautiful.
Resources for Renewing Mind:
And am I ever glad that I bought this! This study is a 7 week studybut being that 's really easy to go through. It focuses on many women especially in Proverbs that are "beauty don'ts" and "beauty do's".
There's also free accompanying videos that you watch after each week. I absolutely love this this study!
Well written and communicated Mila. God's love and nature is what shines from the inside and outwardly.
ReplyDeleteamen! God makes us beautiful.thank you for reading Rachel! lovin ur blog =)
Deletexoxo Mila