In a world where movies, cheerleaders, and even commercials offer pornographic images, it is not a mystery that so many are hooked on more hard-core porn. This is devastating to the lives and families of those who have a tendency toward this addiction.
Women are subjected to a negative self-image if they are not model-perfect. They are bulimic, anorexic, take weight loss pills by the dozens, get plastic surgery and facelifts, all for the purpose of rectifying their image of their not so perfect physical appearance.
When old age enters the picture of those who do possess natural beauty, they stive to maintain the appearance they had in their younger years. The Bible gives us a whole different picture of beauty, one that is influenced by inner beauty that comes from the Spirit of God within us (1 Peter 3:3-4; Proverbs 16:31, 31:30).
God forms us in our mother’s womb with all the genes and DNA that He desires in us. We may inherit a body shape or facial features that is less than perfect in the eyes of the world, but exactly what God wants us to have (Psalm 139:14). These unique traits are His sign of ownership of who we are.
The Lord instructed Samuel not to judge his choice of the future King of Israel by his stature and countenance, because God does not look at our outward appearance, but on our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The peaceful heart with a meek and quiet spirit is of more value to God than the trappings of outer beauty (1 Peter 3:4).
Our Heavenly Father renews our spirit each new day, and His Spirit sanctifies our soul from a carnal focus to a spiritually mature stature (1 Corinthians 4:16, 13:4-8). A body that contains a renewed spirit is more precious than any natural beauty that this world values. Virtue is more desirable than physical appearance (Proverbs 31:10-31).
Prayer:
Father God, we beseech You to deliver our men and women from a carnal focus and set them free from addictions that tear down their spirit in order to satisfy their fleshly desires. Deliver their mind and body from the pursuit of worldly beauty and give them people in their life that see past their physical shape to look deeply into their inner beauty that comes from Your Spirit within them.
Thank You for the Song of Solomon that gives us a beautiful picture of an insecure women that is adored and praised by her faithful husband (1:8, 1:15, 2:2, 2:10-13, 4:1-9, 5:9, 6:1, 7:6, 12:13-14). Give us husbands and wives who quiet our insecurities, and who see our faults but encourage us rather than criticize us (Proverbs 5:19). Let us look at one another as You see us, rather than as the world sees us (1 Peter 3:4).
Thoughts for the Day:
Christ loves His Bride in spite of all our faults and foibles, and He sacrificed His own life for her (Ephesians 5:25). We can have this same attitude with our spouse, which will keep them from feeling the need to resort to physically destructive methods to retain or attain worldly beauty. This gives them the security of feeling loved, appreciated and cherished.
