What matters the most?
As we wrap up our study of Chapter 3, we come to two more untruths that we women are prone to believe about ourselves.
We must remember that one of the areas that is particularly impacted by our view of God is our view of ourselves. If we do not see Him as He really is - if we believe things about Him that are not true - invariably, we will have a distorted view of ourselves.
11. The lie: Physical beauty matters more than inner beauty.
Many women look at magazine covers and long for such clear skin, such smooth thighs, such a flat stomach, such a perfect nose. The billions of dollars women spend every year trying to look young or become beautiful attest to the power of this lie.
The Truth: At best, physical beauty is temporal and fleeting.
Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she will be praised."
While there's nothing wrong with being physically attractive, Christian women should be more concerned about cultivating true, inner beauty of the spirit - the kind of beauty that increases rather than diminishes with age.
The Truth: The beauty that matters most to God is that of my inner spirit and character.
1 Timothy 3:3-4, "Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."
But What About My Needs?
The following lie focuses on our deep, personal longings. Like the lie about "rights," many women feel that God owes them the fulfillment of their deepest longings. While the longings themselves may not be sinful, the danger is that we will begin to demand that God meet our expectations.
12. The lie: I should not have to live with unfulfilled longings.
By focusing on our unfulfilled longings, we can miss the fact that God by His very presence fulfills our deepest needs. He promises that one day we will lack nothing.
The Truth: I will always have unfulfilled longings this side of heaven.
The Truth: The deepest longings of my heart cannot be filled by any created person or thing.
Psalm 73:25, " Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You."
Psalm 34:8-10, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is not want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."
Pray This Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to seek to reflect the beauty, order, excellence, and grace of God through both my outward and inner person. I ask You the grace to walk in this way. Amen.
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