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How should a godly woman regard beauty? How much time and attention should a godly woman devote to physical appearance (exercise, diet, hair & makeup)? How do we overcome being vain? Is it bad to desire to be attractive? How do we balance taking care of our bodies vs. being different from the world? How do we stop complaining about our bodies and embrace an attitude of gratitude towards our Maker's creativity?
Above all, I want to be godly woman who loves the Lord wholeheartedly, who exemplifies a gentle and quiet spirit, and who models true beauty to younger women. But as a woman, I have oftentimes struggled with my physical appearance - not liking a certain part of my body, worrying about the hair accumulated in the drain, thinking too much about outfits, and even obsessing about food and diet. It is so easy to go to the gym and tell myself, "you're doing this to be healthy" when in reality I'm working out because I want to be thinner. I am thankful that time and time again God is faithful in refocusing my thoughts on Him and in reminding me of His love for me. He is so patient and ever so gracious with my forgetfulness. And though I am prone to wander, thanks be to God that His Word is living, active, full of wisdom, and always there to point me in the right direction.
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7, ESV).
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (Prov. 31:30, NIV).
"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:8, NIV).
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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" (1 Pet. 3:3-4, NIV).
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:19-21, ESV).
I'm also refocused by reading about my beautiful Savior.
"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isa. 53:2-5, NIV)
This passage always gets to me! It's funny, but when I think about Jesus, I often think of a beautiful person, and I am very attracted to Him. I desire to be with Him and to be like Him; I long for that day when I will meet Him face to face :) He is beautiful to me - His loving heart, His healing touch, His serving hands, His care and compassion for others, His humility, His obedience to the Father, His patience, His boldness in proclaiming the Truth, His desire and willingness to reconcile us to the Father - all these characteristics (none of which are external) make Him so attractive to me. How crazy is it that this man who I've never seen holds my heart and affection!
Though I don't have all the answers to my previous questions, as I reflect on Jesus' beauty, I conclude that this is the kind of beauty that truly matters, and it's the kind of beauty that I would like to exemplify. I want others to be attracted to Christ's reflection in me - to desire to be around me because something in me reminds them of Christ. I want my beauty to lead others to Christ and as a result bring glory and honor to His name. This is my prayer today:
Heavenly Father, You are such a great God! You are abounding in grace, full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and rich in love. Thank you for Your Son Jesus. Thank You for reminding me today what true beauty looks like, and thank You for being patient with me. Forgive me for placing too much focus on outward appearances and neglecting the unfading beauty of the heart. Help me today and tomorrow to reflect the beauty of Your Son in everything I say and do. In Jesus's name, Amen.
