The Truth about Beauty

From the book Mirror Mirror by Shelley Hitz
Edited by Heather Hart

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32

What is the truth? Other words for truth are authentic, genuine, honest, or real. So again I ask what is the truth? It's not what others think about us, or even what others want us to be, but being who we were created to be. We were created by Christ, and for Christ (Colossians 1:16). We were created to have a relationship with Jesus. We were created to be co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We were created to be filled by God (Ephesians 3:19). We were created to display the splendor of God (Isaiah 61:3).

What does it mean to display the splendor of God? It means that we were created to have true beauty, inner beauty. It's sometimes easy to strive for outward beauty, because that's what the world wants, but God wants us to have true beauty.

This is the picture I get of my true beauty: I see my beauty radiating from the inside out. That when I love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind (Matthew 22:37), it will naturally spill over to all my relationships and every area of my life. It's as if God's light and beauty is in my heart. And it is being pumped into every cell of my body, my brain, my muscles, and my organs through my bloodstream. And as long as God's Spirit is living inside of me, I will have that beauty radiating from the inside out. People will see the light in my eyes. They'll be drawn to the joy in my smile. And they'll want to find comfort in my friendship.

Reflection:
Have you been settling for this world's beauty instead of discovering your true beauty?

Application step:
Ask God to help you change your thoughts and desires about beauty. Start focusing more on your inner self then your outward appearance.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for creating me. Please guide me on my path to finding my true beauty that lies in you. Help me to grow my relationship with you, to be filled by you, and display your splendor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.