Perhaps you’ve seen the tale. The
lovely young maiden seeks to rescue her father from a hideous beast only to
sacrifice her own freedom in the process. The heroine Belle’s unconditional love
for father and Beast transcends what human minds can reason and eyes can see.
How fitting to call her Beauty.
Today’s culture boasts their definition
of beauty on magazine covers, television and movies screens. The ever changing
opinion of a select group prompt the craze of change draped over mannequins
around the globe. Money driving the beast of fashion and trend until the idea
of beauty lasts only as long as a fad. Women buy the lie of the enemy channeled
through designers and consequently buy the clothes, accessories and hairstyles.
The whole ritual declares beauty short lived and always fleeting; not unlike
the ancient altar sacrifices which brought only temporary peace.
Yet there is a beauty which is unfading,
eternal and highly praised by God; the lovely attributes of a quiet and gentle
spirit. This beauty cannot be found in a store and no amount of money can buy
it. Yet it is available to every open and seeking heart. Hallelujah! But first
the lies we have believed about beauty must be denounced and the clear
definitions of quiet, gentle and meek need to be gained. For instance, God says
the meek shall inherit the earth, (Mat 5:5, Psa 37:11). However, the meek are not weak or
passive. Instead they are God fearing, humble, obedient, teachable, and patient.
Likewise, the quiet spirit is not silent but rather it speaks without arguing,
it is not arrogant and it never boasts. And the gentle spirit is tender hearted
and compassionate, nurturing, encouraging, it is not rude and it knows peace.
These are the character traits of a true Beauty which pleases our God. How
gracious is the LORD who speaks hope to a fractured spirit gazing in the mirror.
Dear sisters, can you hear our Father’s loving voice speaking to our hearts; lasting beauty is not found in reflective
glass, it wells up like a soothing spring from the transforming truth in His
Word.
So how do we gain the quiet and
gentle spirit that the LORD declares beautiful? We purpose to apply necessary
beauty treatments. We spend time soaking in the Scriptures. There, still before
the LORD, the truth of God reflects our beauty condition; casting light on
areas dry, cracked and worn in need of exfoliation, moisturizer and renewal. And
similar to the rejuvenation which is gained by spending time in a health spa,
the spirit is cleansed with every application of God’s truth to our lives.
I want this unfading beauty which
sun, wind and time are helpless to erode. So I dare to bare my soul before the
Healer. I breathe in God’s words of life and I steep my mind in His Spirit. I bypass
the mirror and seek the LORD’s reflection in my thoughts and deeds. Still, I bow
before the Lover of my soul in submission trusting that as I give myself over
to the work of His hands, I will indeed emerge…better than before, purer…beautiful.
Daughters, fret not over the lies of
the beast in the mirror and our world, for God is faithful!
“He has made everything
beautiful in its time”, (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Tracy
Frazier
Founder/Director
The FOLD: Fellowship
Opportunity for Ladies Discipleship
For further
insight and contemplation the following links are provided;
Video: In Circle; Dannah Gresh / The Lies
Young Women Believe
Music Video: Mercy Me / Beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vh7-RSPuAA
Get in on The FOLD conversation and share your answer to the question below.
ReplyDeleteQ. How might the culture’s opinion of beauty be a weapon or trap?