“I need a new wardrobe.” “I wish I had her body.” “I guess I’ll never look good enough.”
Ever had a thought like that? We may not be in the habit of saying these shallow things out loud, but all of us have thought them. We find ourselves filled with anxiety over our appearance—to the extent that we quickly slip into compare-and-criticize mode. It’s a common feeling among women, and it is obviously contrary to what the Bible says.
Our beauty should come from within us, not outside us. The Bible tells us that beauty is found in having a gentle and quiet spirit. Loveliness grows out of living a life centered on God and the contentment found in his love. Outward beauty will fade. But a gentle and quiet spirit is unfading beauty. True beauty really does come from within.
We women have such beautiful potential in Christ—He has created us to bless the world in ways that men cannot. But sometimes we reject this potential without even realizing it, by simply choosing to focus on the temporary, fleeting, and false sense of beauty.
How do we develop a gentle and quiet spirit? Sometimes it’s in the little things—looking in the mirror less often, for instance. When I am tempted to stare at myself and criticize, I choose to stop and thank God for blessing me with a working body—a body that can be used to further God’s kingdom. It may be posting verses about true beauty in your bathroom.
Most importantly, it’s finding time to just sit and rest with God. Set aside the world’s and your own expectations and allow him to work in your life.
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