Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
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by Gail Rodgers
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. No matter what she did these days, she just wasn’t satisfied with her appearance.
Beauty is honored in our culture. We want to be beautiful and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look our best. Yet the Barbie doll image is encountered at a very young age and we buy into the myth that physical appearance and possessions are the score cards of this life.
We are wise to care for our bodies and to tastefully pay attention to our appearance. Yet when we buy into the pre-occupation of self, we actually rob ourselves in several ways. Long-term investment of this kind can leave us feeling bankrupt both emotionally and spiritually.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you are overspending your emotional and spiritual bank account in the hopes of buying security and satisfaction through your appearance.
* Am I so absorbed in what I wear and how I look that I am failing to notice the wrinkles of poor attitudes or the sagging lines of deception that are creeping into my heart?
The loveliest appearance is quickly tarnished when harsh words, poor attitudes or loss of integrity becomes evident. The true beauty of a woman is more than what meets the eye.
* Have I bought into the value system that says my worth comes from the number of heads I can turn?
Katie desperately wanted to feel attractive. So she dressed and acted in ways to seduce the looks and actions of men. She believed their attention assured her of her attractiveness and her value. This false sense of worth led her to relationships that were hollow and disappointing to say the least.
It’s not wrong to want to be attractive; just be very wise in knowing your worth as a woman does not come from the responses you get from the opposite sex.
* Does my confidence come from my closet, or am I confident in who I am regardless of a bad hair day or a few extra pounds?
As Christian women, the root of our confidence should not be in ourselves, not in how we look nor in all we can do. No, our confidence is in Jesus as our Source and Resource for all we need in life. He is the One who can guide us and provide us with the evidence of what a truly confident woman looks like. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, humility and self control that comes from Him will overshadow any wardrobe, any day.
A humble woman knows her confidence is in Jesus. Although humility has become a “face in the dirt” word in our culture, the true meaning is one of having your confidence rightly placed. That is true humility—knowing your Source is beyond yourself.
To keep the balance in your life between outward and inward beauty, pay attention to how you clothe yourself inwardly as well as outwardly. Take care to be lovely in your appearance but do not neglect the inward beauty of your heart. Outward beauty alone is hollow and fleeting. Vanity has a price and it steals from the heart.
When you pause at your closet or stand before the mirror remember these words from the heart of your Father God, who wants all His daughters to be beautiful.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … And over all these virtues put on love…” (Colossians 3: 12,14a)
~ Father God,
It’s so easy to buy into this world’s value system, which says that my worth comes from my outward beauty. I can get so pre-occupied with myself and my things. Forgive me, Lord. I want to be a woman whose inward beauty shines forth even on my bad hair days. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and clothe me with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience and love. Let my confidence rest in You as my Source. Help me to be wise in caring for my outward appearance as well. Make me lovely in Your eyes. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions:
1. Why do you think the world is preoccupied with beauty?
2. Describe inward beauty.
3. Can you think of some practical ways to “renew our minds” so that we no longer measure ourselves according to world’s estimation of beauty?
4. Would you be willing to try an experiment? Put the words of Colossians 3:12, 14 a (above) on your mirror for a week. Let us know what happens!
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
I so needed this devotion. I am leading a bible study tonight for our church’s Faith Fitness class for women. As I was searching for a devotional, I found this. I am always looking at my hair, face and the clothes I wear to make myself feel good. If I have a bad hair day or dont like what I am wearing, it changes my whole attitude. Today, I have learned to turn it over to the Lord and he will make me feel beautiful always.
Ooops! I forgot to check off the box that lets me recieve new comments, and now I don’t see that option. I guess I’ll go to another day’s and activate it there.
P.S. I am the one who’s post disappeared. That is the only post I made on this topic until these last two.
Hi there ladies! I am out of town and checking in on someone else’s computer.
I see that now there are two “Dianne”-s on this web site. How shall we distinguish between us?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Be with Linda R today in a special way and show her the beauty you have placed in her..She is unique and one of a very special kind and wonderfully made. We speak to this bipolar condition in YOUR powerful name of JESUS.. BE GONE! ..Touch her from the top of her precious head to bottom of her feet, Lord..Send genuine fellowship towards her and help her go in that building again, held held high by YOU…and let her realize she is beautiful right now today and worthy of that building! YOU are her best friend and will never leave nor forsake her (Hebrews 13:5)..help with weight issues, Father. It is hard to exercise when depression overtakes, but be with her and help her and replace that depression with your JOY and let that be her strength (Nehemiah 8:10) ..Guide her in dietary choices that will aid in this situation..Help her to see herself through your eyes, Father, as your precious, already beautiful, child…In Jesus Name we call these things out now..Romans 4:17..and believe with and for our sister Linda R. Amen and Amen.
Jackie thank you for your words of encouragement and prayers. To be honest today and everyday this week I have spent all day in bed as I am just feeling so depressed, but it is a blessing to know that there are women out there praying for me & Jackie I have been and will continue to pray for you that the Lord will completely heal you & keep the Joy of The Lord in your heart & on your face. Keep Smiling For Jesus!
CORRECTION! ISAIAH 53:5!!!!!!
Jackie,
Just read your prayer request and have lifted you on high! HE has a solution and will touch and mainfest that healing, too! Believing Isaiah 54:5!! Please let us know how you are doing..and know many have already lifted you..and know that His Angels Surround and Protect you, too! Psalm 91!!
Dianne, you are right! We are ALL beautiful since we were made in HIS image! Amen! Daughters of THE King!
Have blessed, beautiful day and wonderful weekend, Ladies (Am determined to do that here with my Abba Daddy in charge!) :)
If I had a dollar for every “how is my appearance” thought I would be a billionare. Even when I believe that I have pulled my “act” together before leaving the house; a hostile glance at my bulging stomach reminds me that I still have not reached level. When I have achieved corporate success, a judging stare at my stretchmarks reveals that maybe I am not as successful as I thought. Looks…looks…looks…looks…
What is ugly when God has made us all? What is too tall or too short when God formed us in our mother’s womb before the foundation of the world. Despite the things we do to our bodies like overeating, not getting enough rest, etc. God has made us and we are beautiful. Let us lose weight b/c it is unhealthy, let us get rest so our brains can function, but let us love our bodies no matter shape, form, color, because the CREATOR of the universe made us in HIS IMAGE. If we are indeed in His image, is He ugly? Of course not!
Ladies,
please keep me in your prayers,the pain this past week has almost been more than I can stand at times,today has been worse than usual.I spent most of the day just laying around trying not to move.I know God will take care of this,I just have to wait on him.but waiting has never been my strong suit and the pain is making me moody. I don’t want to be grumpy and unpleasant with my family.I hate seeing the worry in the eyes of my husband and children.please pray that God will keep joy in my heart will I wait upon him.
me and my 16 year old daughter was just talking about this last night.her winter dance is coming up pretty soon,she’s already picking out dresses,hairstyles,shoes ect.I know she’s excited it being her first real dance,and”" she wants to be beautiful!”" As she has told me . so we had a very long talk about what really makes someone beautiful.I don’t want her to think she has to fit in some mold that the world has fabricated.I fell into that trap when I was younger and ended up with an eating disorder,I thought I had to be thin to fit in.I wound up in the hospital a few times before I found out my plan wasn’t working.I’m not pencil thin anymore but that’s just fine with me ,I’m healthy spiritually,mentally and physically.God has changed me in so many ways, it’s amazing .I use Proverbs 31 as my example now,that’s the beauty I want my girls to see in me and in them.
Hi, I just read this mornings devotional and boy did it home. I was born and raised in a Christian home and have attended church all my life and am a born again Christian. I have bipolar depression, fibromyalgia and arthritis. About 3 1/2yrs about I stopped going to church because I was just so anxious and couldn’t be around people or even leave my home. I have since somewhat over come that but am afraid to back to church because of the weight I have gained. My husband go regularly and I miss it tremendously even though I have really no close friends left. I just keep holding back because of my weight and I feel so guilty about and feel that I am not a Christian anymore because of it and yet I am so very scared to go as I know all those people are going to say boy hasn’t she put weight on. I really would appreciate your prayer in helping me to realize what Jesus said in Colossians 3: 12,14a is TRUE. Thanks for listening and God Bless You All!
Linda
Wow, thank you so much for posting this! As a young woman (and in New York!) it is VERY easy to get caught-up in the culture & messages! It is a fine line between balancing health with vanity these days. This devotional hit home, as I have recently been trying to take better care of my health, yet not letting it overtake my thoughts & mind. I have been trying to surrender my thoughts to the Lord, & reflect on how HE Might want me to think. It has been a process, but encouraged that I am not the only one that encounters such experiences. God Bless You All.
my post disappeared (?)
It’s amazing how God works through other’s. This morning as I drove to work I was almost in tears asking god to talk to me regarding my weight. You see two Years ago I had the gastric bypass surgery and lost 55 lbs. My energy level shot up and I was able to do so much more. My health improved which was the main reason I lost the weight. But, to be honest I wanted to look good too. Two of my friends not christian women also had it done withing six months of me and lost over 100 lbs. I was disapointed of myself but, then asked my self why are you upset? God has improved your health and your looks. Wasn’t that your goal? So I began to enjoy what God hadn’t given me. But recently I started to gain some of my weight back and I again find myself depressed and this morning as I drove I asked God to talk to me, because I am afraid to gain my weight back but what I really don’t know is my fear for my health or my vanity? When I read you devotional this morning I knew he spoke to me through you. I take his message from you as this. I don’t want you to gain the weight but if you trust in me I will help you through this mind problem that has been causing you to gain the weight. Take one day at a time and get through the day watching what you eat and don’t worry about tomorrow for I am with you today. Your inner beauty is what makes you beautiful emphazise on that and I will help you with the rest.
Thank you for sending this devotional to me and I pray it helped someone else as it helped me. God Bless us all
Josie Rodriguez
An absolutely “needed” devotional today in our “Me, Me, Me”, “self absorbed” society. Both of the ladies above made such valid points, too. It’s important to teach our children good grooming and put our best foot forward, of course..But teaching them what Sharon just wrote “The Golden Rule”..may be the most important “lesson” they’ll ever learn.
We are bombarded daily by media that is instant and in our faces all the time to be pencil thin and gorgeous..and an “undercurrent” seeps in that these “images” are how we should look ..many of them computer-imaged into perfection that doesn’t even exist!
If we heed His advice and “way to live” moderation in all things, the Key!! And the old saying “Beauty is, as Beauty does” so true and was just illustrated by the devotionalist (thank you, Gail!)..The danger of the constant search for beauty? Self absorption…a “fixation” on looking perfect..and that robs so many of the true beauty within and around us each and every day!
If we are living a life yielded to our Lord, natural beauty that glows from His light within will flow out of us and touch others. His beauty inside us “will” change the outside. Just think about this great thought! HE makes us all so wonderfully individual..The “mold” for each, never repeated..What an awesome thing..We are each created by Him to be “one of a kind”! HE taught that in his short physical walk on this earth..Yet, so many in today’s world, are driven to be just like everyone else! If only we’d realize the great beauty of being ourselves as HE created us to be! We are wonderfully created, each have different gifts of the Spirit,and, made in HIS image..And, that is the only beauty we’ll ever need! Amen!
wow! this hit home. right now i am in the process of loosing weight for my health only. i pray to God every day to help me to keep in mind it is for my health and not for any other reason. i think inter beauty is the way we treat others , being faithful to
god and is ways showing others compassion treating them as we would like to be treated no matter what our size or looks
Bless you all
sharon
It is such a hard lesson to teach our children: Dress nicely, make sure your hair looks good, face looks nice – if you want to be taken seriously in the world (on an interview or something similar) you have to look good. This is the practicality of the world. However, you are not to judge other people on how they look, it’s the inside that truly counts. How many times I’ve met such Godly women that are so sweet and beautiful but are frustrated with their looks or figures. God can do all things. If your frustration is your weight, either pray that you have the will power to lose it or the attitude adjustment to not let it keep you down. If our eyes are on Jesus, the rest of our body falls in line. My prayer is to see others through Jesus’ eyes, and realize what is the true importance to be seen.