I don’t know how it happened, I’m guessing Eve and the apple had something to do with it, but…where’d we get the idea that we should look any different than we do? Today we’re going to look at what makes a woman beautiful in God’s eyes and what we can do to “change our thinking” about self.
I’ve never met a woman who was happy with what she saw in the mirror.
This breaks my heart.
You and me – Christian women, should know that the “us in the mirror” is beautiful.
Sure, choices we’ve made along life’s way may’ve messed God’s masterpiece up a bit but…you’re still perfectly beautiful.
Young or old, long beautiful hair or no hair, 6-pack abs or mama abs, no butt or big butt, missing thighs or chafing thighs…you get the point. It’s all beautiful.
I’ve got some questions for you:
- How much time did you spend getting ready this morning?
- Were you happy with the results?
- More importantly, what results were you trying to achieve and why?
- When’s the last time you thought something positive about the way you look?
Just this morning I was watching my hair fall down the drain, looking at the missing hair on top of my head, and then…as if that wasn’t enough, I went to look in the mirror to see if my belly was too big. I’m not fat – far far from it. I knew better cuz I’d spent last week digging into scripture on appearance and beauty.
Will you hang onto your answers, along with me, as we open God’s Word?
Together, let’s change our thinking about self.
God’s Word and Your Appearance
You were created to look just like you do for God's perfect reasons.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
We were created for God’s glory.
I know you likely know this, but… do you treat and view your body as a tool God gave you to reflect His glory? This ties directly into us being the temples of God. When Paul wrote this, his readers would have immediately connected this to the Old Testament temple and the priestly, spiritual service that was integral to Israel’s worship.
The temple was built as a place to meet with God and to reflect the awesomeness of God to the surrounding people. Just as the Old Testament people cared for the temple as an act of worship and service to God, we’re to care for ourselves in the same way.
Why?
So our inner self is glittering like well-cared for gold and reflecting God’s love and mercy to the watching world.
Reflection time:
- Why do you think God made you the way He did?
Then spend time pondering those reasons and thinking about God’s purposes. Listen or read the post here and here for more on purpose.
Next,
- think about the ways God might use those things you’re not happy with.
You were created to individually reflect God’s beauty.
Genesis 1:27 reads, So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
You and I are brushstrokes on the beautiful tapestry called life.
Each of God’s creations reflects His amazing creative ability and handiwork but (I’d be a good parent as much as I use “but”) people were the only ones created in His image.
If we gathered every person ever created and put us all together – it’d be the closest we get to seeing what God looks like.
You are the perfect size, shape, and color for the God reflecting tapestry called humanity.
Why would you or I want to do anything to change that?
When we notice physical appearance, ours or others, we should be noticing the “image of God”.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Reflection time:
- Go to a mirror and look at yourself with God’s eyes. How would your Abba Father be looking at you?
- What would He be thinking or saying about you?
God created you as His masterpiece.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
That’s how God sees you and what He wants you to see when you look in the mirror.
Tell yourself this every morning as you’re getting ready for your day 
. Here’s a printable version: I praise You because
It’s not wrong for us to notice and appreciate physical appearance – if God didn’t want us to notice, He’d have made us all identical.
What we notice about ourselves and others should be “the handiwork of God”.
Reflection time: You practiced looking at yourself through God’s eyes in the last step. Now I want you to look at others through God’s eyes.
I know our human attempts to see things as God does falls so short but…attempting to see things as God does is way better than looking at things through our foggy lenses.
Your appearance reveals the glory of God’s creative abilities.
Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Think about everything God created – every person He’s created throughout the ages. Not a single thing looks the same.
Every.Single.Thing.God.Created.Looks.Different.
Ummm – That’s some pretty amazing creativity. The way you look is how God created you to look. Yes, I know that life and the sin of it messes up God’s handiwork (my balding head is evidence of this).
That doesn’t change the fact that you and I should be thankful for how God made us.
Ready to join me in changing what we think about our looks?
Appearance that Matters
Do you spend more getting the inside or outside of you ready for the day?
There’s nothing wrong with looking good on the outside. I think God wants us to look our best. His physical temple in the Old Testament certainly looked off-the-charts good. You are that temple and caring for the Holy Spirit’s dwelling place is super important.
Your inner beauty should be top priority. It’s a well-cared for inner temple (you) that reflects God to the world. Ever met someone who might be considered “homely” by worldly standards but because of their heart and love for God you saw them as beautiful? I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several ladies like this and I’ve gotta work real hard to see them as anything but gorgeous.
Today I’ve got 3 things you can do to get your inside ready and looking drop-dead gorgeous. Friday we’ll spend time putting our outer self together.
Your Inner Beauty Routine
1. Your Beautiful Heart
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
We have to retrain our eyeballs to look at ourselves and others the way God does.
God looks at our hearts and He judges our faith and character, not our waistline, hairstyle, or newest outfit.
Would you go look in the mirror (full-length if possible), close your eyes, and
- ask the Holy Spirit to show you how God sees you?
- Ask Him to give you God’s eyes when looking at yourself and others.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what your heart, faith, and character look like.
Open your eyes. Look at yourself and tell yourself every beautiful thing the Spirit revealed.
This will likely be difficult for some but shh…no one has to know you were talking to yourself in front of a mirror. Younger ladies might find great benefit in learning to look at themselves through God’s eyes and not the worlds.
Next, print this card: How God Sees You_ and write those things down. Keep the card in your pocket or put it on your bathroom mirror or dashboard.
Just put it somewhere that’ll remind you of your beautiful inner qualities.
2. Your Beautiful Mind
What we think is powerful.
Go back and listen or read these posts here and here if you haven’t already. Your thinking about self has to change if you’re going to see yourself as God does.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8
I’ve listed a ton of positive things to think about yourself in this word cloud. Here’s a printable version: Inner Appearance Word Cloud so you can think about these things and begin changing what you think about yourself (and others).
These things could also be some of what the Holy Spirit revealed in step one.
I’m not sure if the mind influences the heart or the heart the mind; either way…your heart and mind have to be in alignment with God’s truths and with each other.
3. Your Beautiful God
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25
Spending time in God’s Word is how we get to know God and ourselves.
The Bible is our instruction manual for life but it’s also so much more than that. Daily time in God’s Word reveals who we are. It teaches us how to think and do everything life requires and in the process, changes our heart.
The last step in your inner beauty regimen is:
Time with Your Beautiful God.
Purposeful time with God changes us in many ways. It changes how we think, act, believe, and what we do or don’t do. If you’re a child of God, time with your Creator is critical.
Life-saving and life-changing critical.
A Note from Sarah
Hello, Sarah here, the other half of Bought At A Price. As I reflected on this post, while editing it, I wanted to share what I learned.
When I’m reflecting on inner beauty and being self-conscious over the years, what comes to mind for me personally is how I’ve always been a slow processor and learner. I used to not like that about myself because it meant I couldn’t keep up as quickly in conversations.
I would be self-conscious about not having quick-witted replies.
Now, I really feel like God designed me that way because it gives me the strength of listening to learn more about others, to be able to reflect God to others through being thoughtful in my responses and conversation.
Even the most quirky parts of our unique characters and appearances can be redeemed as we see them through God’s eyes.
We all have our reasons for why we’re not happy with our physical bodies or character traits.
Don’t let this overtake you.
Don’t let your reasons squash God purposes and plans.
Whether its an external or internal thing you’re not happy with…God’s got a plan and reason for it.
In Closing…
Just as you take the time to brush your teeth and comb your hair each morning, make time for your Inner Beauty Routine. It doesn’t have to be long and it can be done throughout your day.
- Each morning, when you first look in the mirror, tell yourself some of the Beautiful Heart qualities from step one.
- While your brushing your teeth, think about your Beautiful Mind qualities.
- Last, but certainly not least, spend time with your Beautiful God.
I’ve included a list of Beauty and Appearance Bible Verses (and the devotion questions from the post) below so you can download and print them out. Each of the verses can be cut out so you can place them on your mirror, dashboard, computer screen…wherever you want.
Read your Bible or one of these verses each morning. While reading, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what God wants you to see and learn.
Read – Ask – Listen
Don’t forget to reflect on and ask the Holy Spirit to show you:
- Why do you think God made you the way He did?
- How might your unique inner and outer qualities reflect God to the world?
As always, if you have any questions about what you’ve read today, ask your pastor. If you don’t have a pastor, Sarah and I would love to chat.
Leave a comment below or send us a private message here.
Friday we’ll spend time on Your Beautiful Outer Appearance.
Until then, I pray God bless and keep you. That He show you just how beautiful you are. That you would see yourself as God does.
