The Beauty Within…
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
~ 1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)
What truly makes a woman beautiful? The skin? The body? Of course I want to look good for my husband. I do my daily regiments (which seem to get longer as I get older 😉 ) to keep my skin clean and ‘presentable’. But is that the only way I am beautiful? Reading Peter’s words about beauty, I think that we should look also at the beauty within. A quiet and gentle spirit.
But how can I obtain a gentle and quiet spirit? This world is hard and angry. It is not easy to keep quiet and gentle all the time. You know what works for me in situations where I want to just speak up? I stop and pray. I pray that God will give me His gentle Spirit to respond to someone who is lashing out at me. If I would react on my first impulse, nothing good will come out of it. If I rely on Him though, I am calm and collected.
Paul writes in his letter to the believers in Colossi:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
~ Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)
Let God invade you heart today. Let Him make you beautiful within. The beauty that comes from within, will also show outward.
Lord of Heaven & Earth. I am asking you this morning to give me a quiet and gentle spirit. I know that You make me beautiful within and outward. Lord, with Your Spirit I can show the world what true beauty means. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen
Iris, the Lord is doing such a work in me today and He has chosen you to be a part of it… There are issues with which I have struggled mightily over the last couple of weeks. I needed your post and those verses from Colossians more than you can possibly know. Bless you for being faithful to Him and writing this!
Iris, Great word today. So many people look on the outside for beauty when really it lies deep within. Because of Christ Who lives within us, that beauty within is bound to shine thru on the outside…beauty can be measured in so many other ways besides the face or the figure. To me beauty shines thru in your smile, in your countenance, in your grace, and it shines thru in your walk with the Lord.
Thanks for sharing today, Laurie
Iris,
You are one of the most beautiful women I know. Lovely post, it touched me this morning.
Well, after a not-so-gentle morning with my daughter (my 4 year old who doesn’t want to wear anything in her closet; not even her underwear – aghhhhh!), I found this post to be an encouragement straight from the heart of God.
Thank you for sharing!
Having a ministry to teen girls, this is a CONSTANT topic of discussion. Everything in our culture pushes these girls (and us women) to strive for outward beauty and a sassy, defiant spirit, and a smart mouth.
Some of the most beautiful women I’ve met are 2 Maasai women from Kenya. No make up, no trendy clothes, but their faces demonstrate an imperishable beauty that only Christ can give.
Thank you for this beautiful post.
I know this site but I never really read the post. Today I stopped and read this one and it made me feel good. I’ve been wanting to be gentle to people and God has been working in me. Sometimes some people can be harsh and I also want to do the same but I couldn’t anymore because of God. I hate to admit that I still fail other times. This is a great encouragement to me, thank you!
You my dear friend, are true beauty.
Thank you, Iris. That was just the tonic for the soul which I needed today. Not always feeling so pretty.
How true your words are, Iris. I’ve seen women who are packaged very well with the perfect makeup and hair. But some of them are so self-centered and that’s what they reflect. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to look nice but if a woman is growing in her relationship with the Lord … it also reflects to others. And that can be so beautiful!
Wonderful message today! I love it. You’re such a beautiful person and emulate these qualities so well. May I let God invade my heart to do so as well.
Iris,
“The beauty that comes from within, will also show outward.” This is so true.
I have to be careful not to just look at the outside of others too. Sometimes I think people spend too much time on the outside and the inside is wasting away too.
Amen to that prayer.