Mirror Mirror On the Wall
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This week’s Women of Faith devotional by Nicole Johnson discusses the way humans are fearfully and wonderfully made…and that God loves us just as we are. I love what Nicole says, “God formed you and said ‘This is good.'” So just why is it so hard to digest that? The “Talk Back” section encourages us to answer the question:
Do you struggle with the way you look? Why do you think that is?
Hmmmm. Well we just had to go and open up that can of worms, didn’t we. I think from the first time I heard, “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” and Snow White was chosen instead of Cinderella, my ugly side reared its head and said, “Well, goodness, what does that ivory-skinned, ruby red lips chick have over the blonde?”
Honestly? Yes. I do struggle with the way I look. For multiple reasons and I wish I could say they are all godly reasons, but the truth is: the world constantly tells me I should look a certain way. And I just get the idea in my head that I should look that way.
I know: God looks on the heart. And I praise Him desperately for that. Because the outside of this ol’ flesh ain’t so pretty.
When the makeup is washed off,
and the wrinkles are showing…
When the hair is frizzy,
and the roots are glowing…
When the pimples are plenty,
and the fat cells aren’t slowing…
God LOVES me.
But just as disclaimer, man still does look on the outward appearance. So while God loves me, I think someone might be distracted by a huge pimple on my nose while I’m trying to tell them about Jesus. God loves beauty and wants that hidden man of the heart to shine, but this doesn’t mean we can let the outer image go to pot in the mean time. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are commanded to care for them in a sacred manner.
So, this leaves us with that difficult balancing act of taking care of both the inner man of the heart and its humble exterior. Sort of like keeping the car well-oiled and mechanically functioning smoothly, but not allowing it to rust out either.
Luke 2:52 tells us the way Jesus did it:
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
There’s the pattern. Mentally, physically, spiritually, socially.
Here’s to learning to allow the Mirror of the Word to be our beauty guide.
Click here to view other Women of Faith Talk Back entries.
“Aint no such thing as UGLY”. Reassuring words when one aint looking too pretty.
But you are right all women has this huge need to meet the beauty standards of the world which frankly i think we need to learn to override. DO YOU THINK jESUS WOULD HAVE FELT ANY LES TEH SON OF GOD BECAUSE HE DID NOT MEET THE ‘STANDARDS’ THE WORLD SET FOR WHAT SONS OF GOD DO? No, I doubt this very much.
I love Paul when he talks of Christians being like people who are looking into a mirror and all the while are being transformed INTO the image that is in the mirror. we becoming more and more like Him. Christian women have unfair advantage over the unsaved, God’s glory glows in us. Picture Moses coming out of God’s presence – glowing. Thats what I mean. We pretty from the inside anyway PLUS the makeup, the hair all done up etcetera.
Put as much effort into your look as every otherwoman, by all mean and go the extra mile because the brand that you represent is superior – the standards are higher. Read also http://thecyruswoman.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/the-brand-we-represent/.
Love what you said about Christian women having an unfair advantage over the unsaved in regards to glowing! Thanks for stopping by!