Scuffling with a low physique picture and low self-confidence about your appears? Use these Bible verses on magnificence to see what God has to say.
The definition of magnificence is continually evolving. For essentially the most half, magnificence has been restricted to our outward look. After we are all dolled up, we would really feel lovely or obtain compliments that don’t come as continuously as once we first get up within the morning with mattress head, or once we’ve spent the day in our sweat pants and t-shirt.
The media, specifically, has created an enviable picture of what magnificence is. In America, that usually means skinny and tall with all the suitable curves in all the suitable locations, freed from stretch marks, muffin tops, and different blemishes. It has even gone so far as making sure physique varieties, nostril shapes, eye colours, or options “developments.”
Within the pursuit of reaching these magnificence requirements, many ladies have fallen prey to the lie that who they’re, and the way God has made them, doesn’t reside as much as the ever-changing magnificence requirements round us (if you wish to struggle these lies, be certain that to be taught the right way to take your ideas captive).
This has led many to change their physique and face, whether or not quickly by make-up and equipment or completely by surgical procedure and train, to realize these specific concepts of magnificence.
Sadly, the wonder epidemic we reside in is rapidly creating discontentment, low vanity, comparability, envy, division, and resentment within the hearts of many who really feel that they fall wanting this unreachable, and unrealistic commonplace.
The world’s definition of magnificence creates such an unrealistic expectation that it destroys so many ladies’s physique picture.
These are just some signs that we learn in Scripture which are proof of the flesh and not the works of the Spirit.
In some ways, the fruit that has grown from the world’s magnificence platform and requirements transfer us, not solely away from dwelling godly lives, rooted within the Spirit, but in addition leads us away from what true magnificence actually appears like.
On the one hand, it’s vital for us, particularly as Christians to know that what God creates is nice, and that He created us. He formed every one in every of us, and He made us in His knowledge, and love.
We’re before everything made in God’s picture, which signifies that all of us have inherent worth that nobody can take away from us, and it doesn’t change at any time when we don’t match the invoice for the subsequent widespread magnificence pattern.
Then again, additionally it is vital to comprehend that a lot of the world’s obsession with outward magnificence is absolutely an obsession with self (I’m certain you’ve seen the massive push towards self-love, particularly in relation to our our bodies). The world appears inward, and fixes its eyes on itself.
On this planet, what you appear like on the skin is supposed to present you validation, and is what is targeted on as a method to increase your confidence and vanity. Primarily, it’s the way you earn your price.
However Scripture teaches us a unique type of magnificence.
That magnificence shouldn’t be fixated on outward appearances and isn’t obsessive about self. As Christians, our price comes from Christ and is unshakable.
We should always completely deal with ourselves, and there’s nothing improper with having fun with good clothes or carrying make-up. However we must always at all times be on-guard towards making magnificence an idol.
- How do these issues possess us?
- Will we really feel like we are able to’t reside with out it?
- Are we depending on it to really feel lovely?
- Are you aware that, no matter what you’re carrying or the variety of likes on an image on Instagram, that you’re nonetheless simply as worthy?
In case you ever want a reminder of God’s view of you, and what He sees as lovely, listed here are a number of Bible verses so that you can flip to.
Bible Verses on Magnificence
1. 1 Samuel 16:7
“However the LORD mentioned to Samuel, ‘Don’t think about his look or his peak, for I’ve rejected him. The LORD doesn’t have a look at the issues man appears at. Man appears on the outward look, however the LORD appears on the coronary heart.’”
I feel it’s vital to start out with this verse, as a result of we get to see what actually issues. As Christians, our first precedence is to concern the Lord. In scripture, there are lots of cases the place scripture talks about what a snare it’s to concern man. A distinct phrase we would use for that is “individuals pleasing.”
But when our first precedence is to concern God, relatively than to concern man, now we have to ask ourselves what it’s that God appears like. On this verse the subsequent king of Israel is being chosen, and one in every of Samuel’s first instincts is to guage by look. However God’s response is, “don’t think about his look.”
It’s not about how tall he’s, or how good-looking he is likely to be. God hadn’t chosen him for that exact place, and his outward look didn’t affect it in any respect. As an alternative, God regarded on the coronary heart, and it was David’s coronary heart that He checked out, and who He selected as king.
In a world that focuses on outward appearances, now we have a God who appears at our hearts, and that’s the place we must always place our focus too.
2. Psalm 139:14
“I reward you as a result of I’m fearfully and splendidly made; your works are great, I do know that full effectively.”
Have you ever ever regarded within the mirror and brought a second to present God reward for a way He has created you? I do know it’s usually simpler to look within the mirror and pick all of the issues that you just is likely to be dissatisfied about.
However how would our mindset change in the direction of ourselves, others and God once we, similar to the Psalmist, give God reward for a way He created us?
Whether or not we don’t really feel lovely, or we don’t reside as much as the world’s commonplace, or maybe we do reside as much as the world’s commonplace, our magnificence shouldn’t be measured by these opinions and even our personal opinion. It’s primarily based on the truth that now we have been created by God. What he creates is nice.
I really like the phrases that David used right here, “fearfully and splendidly.” For God to create us fearfully and splendidly speaks of the cautious, and masterful intent when He made us.
He didn’t create us in a careless method, however He made us with intention, He created us with a objective, to know and revere Him. He made us uniquely and crafted us superbly.
3. Proverbs 31:30
“Appeal is misleading, and wonder is fleeting; however a girl who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Most of us have heard of, or learn Proverbs 31 in some unspecified time in the future in our lives. At any time when we hear of that scripture our minds could rapidly simply flip to ” The Proverbs 31 girl.” You’ll be able to usually discover this passage mentioned and studied in girls’s teams and Bible research.
For essentially the most half, it has served as a suggestion to us of what a godly girl appears like, and the type of spouse Solomon is instructing his son to search for.
It’s superb that admits the entire qualities which are famous down within the passage of what this girl is like, the author consists of this bit about look. He tells his son to be sensible, to do not forget that allure might be misleading. It might seem like one thing that it’s not, it could appear like it is going to result in life however would possibly steer you into the claws of dying.
However then he talks about magnificence, the outward side of magnificence, and he says magnificence is fleeting. In different phrases, it’s one of many issues that change, it might’t be the one or most vital a part of discovering a spouse, or of being a spouse.
There’s one thing that far outlasts our bodily magnificence, and that’s our hearts. A coronary heart whose posture in the direction of God is one in every of reverence and awe. That’s the type of magnificence that needs to be valued and praised.
4. 1 Peter 3:3-4
“Your magnificence mustn’t come from outward adornments, similar to braided hair and the carrying of gold jewellery and high quality garments. As an alternative, it needs to be that of your inside self, the unfading great thing about a mild and quiet spirit, which is of nice price in God’s sight.”
Generally this verse can simply be taken out of context, so earlier than we discuss what it means, it’s mandatory to speak about what it doesn’t imply. When Peter refers to those outward adornments and equipment, he isn’t telling girls that they’re not allowed to braid their hair, put on gold jewellery or high quality clothes.
As an alternative, he says that the great thing about a girl mustn’t come from these items. In different phrases, it shouldn’t be our sole focus, and what we rely on for our magnificence. We are able to do our hair, and put on lovely clothes, however that isn’t what our foremost focus is or what offers us worth.
He reminds us that what’s going on inside us is what we regularly overlook with a view to deal with what’s on the skin. However now we have all of it twisted.
It’s the inside self, the guts that’s after Christ, and submits to His reign in her life that really begins to radiate the one magnificence that lives on ceaselessly.
On this planet, all the pieces is usually put collectively completely on the skin, whereas the within is uncared for. Although the world locations a variety of worth on the outward look, this isn’t what strikes the guts of God.
It’s a light and quiet spirit, one which doesn’t want the eye or approval of the world, however seeks solely to reside for her Lord. This coronary heart, this inward place, relatively than the outward look, is treasured in God’s sight.
