Proverbs 31: 24-25 (ESV)
She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. Strength and dignity are her clothing, she shall rejoice in the time to come.
Fall is one of my favorite seasons! Leggings, cozy shirts and booties are a few of my go to items right now. I’ve even bought a few new things for my fall wardrobe this season and love looking on Pinterest for new outfit ideas. As women I think we all have a desire to feel beautiful and this verse from Proverbs 31 shows that women in bible times weren’t much different from us. The Proverbs 31 woman also understood though that inward beauty was just as appealing. She understands that God gives her strength and that she has dignity because she’s been made righteous by Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:10 (ESV)
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
I think Isaiah says it perfectly. When Christ died for us He took off everything we cover ourselves in: sin, guilt, shame, etc. and replaced it with the most beautiful garment of salvation. I am so thankful God is teaching me that I don’t have to focus on always just “appearing” perfect. My desire is to spend less time on my outward appearance and more time in the Word and in prayer as I grow to exhibit the beautiful inside characteristics of Jesus: selflessness, kindness, compassion, courage, humility, love…
John 3:30 (ESV)
He must increase, but I must decrease.
When I think about the the most beautiful people I know, they are beautiful on the outside but what I’m really drawn to is their beauty on the inside. My hope is to be that person too. That when others see my beauty it would be a direct reflection of God’s goodness and the joy only He can bring. That they would see an imperfect me that needed and serves a perfect Savior. The more time we spend with God, the less we become and the greater He becomes. It’s a process that won’t happen overnight but when we wake up each day reminding ourselves of the truth that our beauty and our worth comes from Him, we start becoming more like Him. We start putting others first and loving others better. That’s true beauty. That’s what will get others thinking, “What can I do to experience the real joy and love she has?” and allows us to purposefully share the gospel with them.
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Today, let’s start putting down our phones and magazines and all the things that want to tell us the wrong definition of what beauty is and instead pick up our Bibles and discover what true beauty really looks like. Lets remind ourselves that our identity comes from Jesus, not from what the world thinks of us. In order for us to really live a life of purpose for God and take risks for Him, we first must be confident of and understand who we are in Him. We must turn our focus from how our beauty makes us look to how His beauty helps us love!
Jesus thank you for dying for me. Thank you that you are the perfect example of what true beauty really is. You humbled yourself on that cross and showed us the greatest example of strength and loving kindness. Stir in my heart Lord that I would draw closer to you. That I would daily strive to spend more time with you and grow to become more like you. Lord use the beauty you have filled me with and the skills you have given me for your greater purposes, that my works would be motivated out of a love for you and those around me. Amen.
Blessings,
Leah Wright
Comments