19 Mar the Eye of the Beholder
Over the years, I have been hearing, You’re so cute! You are pretty. You’re beautiful! … and the latest, “Compared to the average 50 year old out there, you are a knock-out!” Wait! Is that even really a compliment? 😉 (Thankfully, I know my husband well enough to realize that English and smooth talking are not his best traits. Ha!!) Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder…
I am aging, though, and it can get to me at times, when looking in the mirror, because of all the worldly hype about youthful beauty.
How many products and articles are out there pushing anti-aging, beauty regimes and miracle remedies? Countless!! And here is the reality: they do not actually work! You will, inevitably age, and outward youthful beauty fades.
Add to that, the times when I say something nasty to my husband. I very quickly think to myself, “No amount of primping could make me beautiful in his eyes right now!”
Because, I know, in my heart, that true beauty lies within. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And God – He is always beholding… I long for beauty! Doesn’t every woman?
Thus saying, just like my regular daily “beauty” regime has to be regular and daily, so should my inner beauty regime be!
What beauty regime, you ask?
To feel fresh and awake, I splash cool water over my face, removing the sleep from my eyes and the drool from my cheek 😉 (Just kidding about the drool, hopefully...), then towel dry. I then gently massage a light moisturizer on my face. Putting on my protection, so to speak. I am ready to face the day!
Freshen up as many times as necessary to remove oils after a workout, or simply because of hot weather or dirt from the outside... because leaving dirt on my face will cause skin issues that will soon be even obvious to others.
At the end of the day, I use a light cleanser to remove the day’s dirt and perhaps make-up. Twice per week, I use an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells.
I finish the day by applying a cream that moistens and repairs my skin while I have my beauty sleep.
And that regime is simply for my face.
So, using that example, what about my inner beauty?? What are the steps I am willing to take to make real beauty be seen in me? How do I want to be seen in the eye of the Beholder?
1. Waking up, I want to be fresh and ready for the day! First things placed first – I need to pray!
In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
I can awaken with yesterday’s issues being brought to mind, yet, if I pray…
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV
I also need to prepare for the trials of the day, by reading God’s Word! Put on my protection, so to speak!
I study Your teachings very carefully so that I will not sin against You." Psalm 119: 11 ERV
2. As many times as necessary, get rid of the dirt of the day! Whether it be asking forgiveness for some wrong I have done, or praying for someone else that has wronged me, bring it to the Lord. If I hold on to that dirt, I can become irritable, miserable, bitter…not the beautiful attributes I long to have.
Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.” Ephesians 4:31-32 ERV
...if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.” 1 John 1:9 MSG
3. At the end of the day, deep clean! Talk to God about your day, give thanks for the blessings, ask forgiveness, ask for the help you need, lay bare the heaviness of your heart..
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2 NIV
4. For healing and the best beauty sleep? Read spiritually uplifting books, and read Scripture before bed. Adding the balm that repairs:
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6,7 MSG
Adding your mouth to the mix, since it is a part of your face – no amount of minty fresh toothpaste can mask major garlic breath 😉 (Not that garlic is bad – I love it, so maybe that isn’t the best example…) But, here is my point: It matters what you put inside, as it inevitably comes out in your speech, and ugly words do not make a beautiful speaker.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 KJV
I LOVE this version of these verses:
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over Your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.” Psalm 19:12-14 MSG
I have always longed to be beautiful! In my actions, in my speech, in my everything…inwardly beautiful – the beauty that really matters. I long to be truly beautiful in the eye of the Beholder! Shouldn’t that be every woman’s goal?
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