IN THE EYES OF THE FATHER.

I was walking home from, you guessed it... church <lol>; one beautiful Sunday afternoon. I was sort of deep in the validations of social media where I felt that I had to take photos of myself whenever I needed to fuel the tank of 'am I really beautiful?', and that was a lot of times. I don't know how many of you reading this at whatever time, have struggled with this- especially in silence. I'm not sharing this to complain, pity myself or seem miserable. I share this with the hope and belief that God our Father will use me and the experiences I've been through to reach His people who may be in similar situations.

When I posted this on instagram that evening, I captioned: BEAUTY is RELATIVE... Today I looked that up by definition and realised that relative is like saying comparative. But should beauty really be compared to something or someone else? People say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what does God who created us say about beauty? 

1 Peter 3:3-4, Your adornment must not be merely external- with interweaving and elaborate knotting of hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God. AMP

Psalm 139:14, I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. AMP

1 Timothy 2:9-10, Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and discreetly in proper clothing, not with [elaborately] braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but instead adorned by good deeds [helping others], as is proper for women who profess to worship God. AMP

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

Reading through this verses my eyes are opened to the fact that:

*God does not create ugly things or people. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made; and deep down our souls know this to be true. If beauty were characterised by our hairstyles, jewelry or clothing, then those without would be 'not beautiful', including newborn babies. If beauty was truly characterised by our body shapes, heights, complections, or other body features, then only specific types would be 'beautiful'- which is not true. The enemy has just orchestrated such superficial or skin-deep notions and ideas from the very beginning in the garden of Eden; when he managed to convince Adam and Eve to sin so he could introduce false concepts of what God says about literally everything. 

*True beauty is seen in the gentleness and peacefulness of our spirits. Have you ever just admired someone you saw because of how gentle their heart is, how mature their spirit is and how kind and helpful the person is? Then you see how you finally even notice their physical beauty in God. That's why Proverbs 31:30 says that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.NIV I strongly believe king Lemuel was referring to outward appearance.

Dear son and daughter of the Most High God, don't waste precious moments of your life believing that you are not beautiful, because God says you are! Don't dwell on the physical when God is looking at your heart. You are made in His image and likeness. Seek His face (Psalm 27:8) and You will find yourself too. 

Dear Father, I pray that You set us free from all deception, help us hang on the Truth that sets us free. Search our hearts and souls and spirits through and through; sanctifying and beautifying them to Your pleasure and satisfaction all glorious God. Lord we desire to know You and know who we are in You, hear our cries at rock bottom, at the corners and on our last ends. We have no refuge besides You my beautiful King; the definer of all Your creation. Thank You for saving us from ourselves and sin through Your holy Son Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in the light of Your living and loving words over our lives, now and forever in Jesus name, amen.

Love, Serene Steph,