How much time do you spend working on your beauty? 💃🏻💋

For some of us, me included, a love of fashion and beauty has been there almost since birth. It’s so much fun to play with clothes, makeup and hair, accessories and put together a unique armour. We can decorate the outside to show people who we are on the inside. It’s not necessarily bad. God made us creative and colourful, right?

But God has reminded me more than once throughout the years that outer beauty isn’t the most important thing (I knew but still needed the reminders - have you ever been here too?)

1. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

2. 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 3:4

3. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, - Colossians 3:12

4. for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. - 1 Timothy 2:2

This last verse might seem a little random but I love the reminder that success never means we do what we want (just read 1 and 2 Kings!). Just because we have the resources to spend lots of time on our appearance, doesn’t mean that we should. Vanity and materialism are not beautiful to the Lord.

So may we not read these verses and shrug them off. May we ask the Holy Spirit to show us areas of our lives that are out of God’s order and help us get right. May we love to truly live out God’s law and become more Christ-like daily. Maybe it’s good to be reminded that Jesus was not the most groomed or impressive looking (Isaiah 52:2) - on purpose.

5. For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)

But he is hands down the most beautiful human that ever lived - may his beauty be the standard. ❤️