According to Wikipedia, here is the definition of beauty, ‘Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture. As a cultural creation, beauty has been extremely commercialized. An "ideal beauty" is an entity which is admired, or possesses features widely attributed to beauty in a particular culture, for perfection.’ There is also the old saying, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. God is the only one whose opinion we should be listening to, but in this world today so many of our young girls look to Hollywood for answers. They see themselves as too fat, too thin, too ugly, too big of butt, too small of a butt, too big of a chest, too small of a chest, and more… the list goes on. Most girls are trying more to be like someone else, than being the one that God created them to be. (It goes the same for boys as well – with looks and sports).
Our beauty is not only skin deep, it goes deeper into your heart, spirit and soul. Our beauty does come from within, as this verse states. Sometimes when a mother suggests a boy for her daughter, the daughter of course asks if he’s cute, and usually the answer is, well he has a nice personality. We usually laugh it off and make fun. However, I think a person’s character has a lot to do with their beauty. We watched a reality show a while back now, called ‘True Beauty’, where contestants were competing to see who was the most beautiful. However, they thought they were only being tested on outer beauty. The show wass hosted by three judges: Nolé Marin, Cheryl Tiegs, and Vanessa Minnillo who judged the contestants on their inner beauty as well. It was funny to see them competing with each other, and actually judging each other in the house. There were usually tests during the photo shoots, or activities that they were involved in; simple things like helping a girl who is really upset, to helping an older man who fell and dropped his groceries. Most of the contestants didn’t help. Sometimes they even got irritated at the person, and it was really disheartening to see that they were so consumed in their own outer appearance and life, than to take time to help others.
Now, we all have flaws, inside and out, but we aren’t to dwell on those flaws. We are made in God’s image, so we are perfectly flawed. God made us just as we are. We are special in His sight. He gave us our looks, character, attitude, talents, and no one else in the world is exactly like us. We need to think of ourselves in the same way that God does. Again, it involves changing our mind-set and using words of life!
I read a list in one of the “tween” books I have, and I’m going to add it in to this devotional, for those of you who may be feeling unloved, unworthy, & unimportant. I have added some as well.
NEVER EVER…• think you are ugly
• believe that you cannot change for the better
• that you have to look like the girls (or guys) in magazines or on TV/movies
• say, “I hate myself” or “I’m a loser” or “I’m ugly” or “I’m worthless”
• think that your worth is only about grades, money or looks
• accept the lie that if you aren’t ‘popular’ you aren’t important
• do things that you know are wrong just to be accepted
• cut or mutilate yourself to make yourself feel better
• listen to others opinions about who YOU are
• think or believe or declare that you are unlovable, incapable, unworthy, or unimportant
• give the devil a place in your heart – HE IS UNDER YOUR FEET!!!
• lose your faith in God, or your JOY!
Prayer: God, thank you for creating us in Your image, for making us who we are, whether we like it right now or not. Help us to view ourselves through your eyes. Remind us in troubled times that we are special, worthy, loved, capable, beautiful & important. Thank You Lord that You overcame sin and death, and that we have the same victory in You. Help us believe in You, and to believe in ourselves. God I pray right now for girls (& guys) who may be in this situation right now. (No matter how young or old), Jesus I thank you for your healing power. We declare HEALING and RESTORATION now in the name of Jesus. We bind the spirit of deception, and loose the joy of Your Spirit to fill us with your love and peace, and the power to defeat the enemy. Remind us how important our spoken words are. Help us to declare words of life, and not words of the enemy or the negative opinions of others. Guide us and direct us in the steps we should take to fulfill our destinies in You. Enable us to use the character, talents and gifts that You have given us to the fullest capacity. We are capable, and we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Give us a great week, and help us to shine Your Light to others who may be in this darkness of despair. In JESUS’ name, AMEN!
God help us overcome... OVERCOME by Desperation Band
Be blessed and be an OVERCOMER!!
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