Happy with what you see in the mirror?

Happy with what you see?   
Each morning we arise from our sleep, step out of a comfy bed and face our first priority  of looking into the bathroom mirror.  Wow, that woman looking back at me needs some serious attention! 

The curling iron gets plugged in, the first splash of cool water on my face halfway brings me out of my slumbered state. My right hand reaches down to pull the miracle bag out of the drawer to hopefully work wonders. Eyeliner and some mascara may help me feel somewhat suitable for heading out a world that will judge me by what they see on the outside.  

So WHY all the fuss to impress?
I have to admit I do not understand why women feel the need to morph themselves into someone who is physically pleasing to a world that is misguided.  Someone I may have not seen in a year or two obviously has grown younger somehow not older.  Lines disappear, skin tightens and lips seems to poof out.  Everyone seems to be jumping on the “altering yourself” bandwagon.  

Many times it is medically necessary to have these procedures performed, and they can be a real blessing for those that truly need it; but many times it is because of our need to feel perfect and acceptable to the world. 

Are there any TV journalist's who still have lines in the forehead or at the corners of their eyes?  Of course not.  It seems like it is a job requirement to have the necessary facial improvements to be pleasing to look at as you tell the world of political upheaval, protests in the streets and ongoing wars. Botox is the answer, spray makeup (like paint) to cover any slight imperfections and then abnormally long eyelashes attached with glue. 

It is all about sending out the message:
“You must look perfect. People will focus on you only if you look perfect.”  

For those who have given time and money to all these procedures, I am not trying to insult, I sincerely hope to redirect the beauty focus to what lies within not what lies on the outside.  The world says to focus on your physical appearance, GOD disagrees. 

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR HEART!
 Did you know that God cares about your heart first and foremost?  
God looks at the condition of the heart first.

You are not expected to be perfect.  Although I think of Eve and how she had it all and gave it up for a bite of fruit.  She had the perfect appearance and the perfect guy!  
(Read a prior post related to this “A Miraculous Makeover”)
www.mwordsandthechristianwoman.com/blog/so-you-want-a-miraculous-makeover

There is SO MUCH about the heart in the Bible!

God is focused on your heart.
Your enemy (the devil) and the misguided world around you, will try to get you away from the path that GOD desires and push you on the path that the world wants you on - the path away from GOD and inner joy.

How many of us wake up each day, go over to the mirror, and ask the woman staring back,
“How is your heart today?”

Instead of reaching down for a miracle bag of products that we hope will cover up what we do not like in ourselves, we need to be reaching down into our heart - filling it with what we need to FEEL beautiful on the inside.  

What is in our heart will spill out into our daily life.
Now THAT is what is beautiful and attractive to those around us.

The desire to be that woman of outside beauty is a huge mistake…  
 It is truly missing the mark.   You will never please the world, never.   
​So much emotional pain could be alleviated if young women were taught that genuine beauty is found from what lies "on the inside." 

There is a void within all of us, male or female.  
In this life some of us will successfully fill that void.  
It is a void that can be filled only by JESUS, the Christ. 
If you walk this world looking for anything or anyone else to fill your void, you are seeking and struggling in vain. 

With  Jesus living within us, we do not need to strive to please the world.
We can be content and filled with inner beauty that comes from Him living within.   

A heart that is filled with the contentment of "who" your are in Christ is all you need to be beautiful.  It is a spiritually and emotionally healthy heart and there is no desire to please a world that is so misguided. 

So instead of searching for the things of this world to fill the void within, focus on applying all His words and promises to your heart and mind - you will see an amazing transformation - NOW THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! 

...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”   1 Samuel 16:7

  Take 5 minutes to read this Bible lesson on HOW GOD LOOKS at us…

God spoke these words to Samuel after he arrived at the house of Jesse. 
You see, Samuel was there to anoint the next king of Israel - as God instructed him. 
Notice here, God is looking at the heart not the physical outward appearance in His choice. 

Jesse proceeds to show off seven sons to Samuel, those he thought were handsome and deserving.  But no - none of these were God’s anointed.  Their hearts were not right for the job.

Jesse obviously thought his youngest son, David, was out of the running to be God’s anointed. After all, he was the youngest and smaller in stature so Jesse just let him stay out in the field with the sheep. 

Through God’s eyes… 
God desired a humble tender of the sheep over the proud string of seven sons that were strutting their stuff,  those sons whom Jesse had thought were much more appealing.  Totally unaware to what GOD was looking at (the heart) for in the one who would be HIS anointed king. 

Samuel also did not seem to understand what God had told him earlier, “ The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people” (1 Samuel 13:14).

Yes, God is looking at the heart!
God is not focused on the outward physical body,  but the heart that is seeking after Him.   

Maybe you have experienced being pushed aside, as David was, left out in the field with the sheep, deemed not good enough. 

Do you feel you are not good enough?
Do you feel you are not acceptable? 

Remember this...
God has a plan for your life when HE has your heart. 

Ignore the judgement of the world and those who may make you feel inadequate.

Instead fill your heart and mind with the things of GOD...
His Word, His promises, His comfort and His spiritual strength.  

You can do this daily by opening up the Bible and absorbing what GOD has put there for YOU to hide in your heart.   (My personal fav place to read is Psalms, especially 103 and 104)

Do not trouble yourself with the judgement and standards of the world, for if you live by the standards of the world, you will only find hurt, anxiety and struggle and NEVER fill that void that lies within.  

Ask Jesus to fill your void right now. 
Hand over your life to Him. 
I encourage you to joyfully be a humble vessel in HIS hands.
He loves to see a willing heart.
​It’s a beautiful sight indeed.

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