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Day 4: Inner Beauty
Scripture:
1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Ok! Now I know this scripture may be directed to women specifically, and that it may be somewhat offensive to some. Let us give this scripture a chance 🙂
Growing up in the Lord, this scripture was one of my anchors. I was bullied and teased a lot when I was growing up. Around the same time, I received Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. You guys already know the story.
One of my challenges, after I became born again (which happens when you receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour), is that I broke my tooth – like my front tooth. At first, this didn’t bother me at all. This was until people started teasing me about it at school. Before that, I just seemed to be an easy target because I came across as innocent, shy and unassuming.
So, this really just about added to my torment. This ultimately led to a low self-esteem (something the Lord has been working on since and that He has helped me with because it affected my walk with Him when it came to believing what He says about me).
So the scripture; it helped give me a new perspective to life, that really got me through my school life. I figured, if the Creator of the universe is only interested on what I looked like on the inside, then I have a chance in life and eternity. I can focus on what I look like on the inside – at least I have some control over that. If God is the One who is able to change my life and bless it, technically, He is the only One I should be interested in pleasing in any case. So there it was, my way of escape from caring about what people thought about me.
I want to encourage you; that thing that seems to be the object of your pain (as a male or female), God will turn it into the object of your glory.
God developed good character (still work in progress) in me. Now improving my external features is the easy part! The important work was done, as a matter of priority. There are a lot of people who look great on the outside, but are dying on the inside. If you are one of them, you can come to Jesus, and He will give you life on the inside of you!
In retrospect, I am so grateful that I was an object of ridicule to some people because what it did for me, or rather, the good that our good Father extracted out of that experience, is priceless (Romans 8:28):
God the Father became my confidant (I mean He knew how I felt without me having to verbalize it – I could just cry and felt like I was heard, case closed).
Jesus Christ became my best friend, the friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
God the Holy Spirit became my Comforter.
7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. John 16:7 (AMPC)
Practical tips:
- Study the nature and character of God (the Holy Spirit will reveal this to you in your bible studies)
- Prioritize what is important to God, in the decisions you make (place your focus on pleasing God instead of people)
- Run to God and confide in Him
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being such a good God, able to turn all my pain into something that can only work out for my good. You have given me Your Son and the Holy Spirit, what more could I ever need? Thank you for Your marvelous gifts to me! Father I pray, that You may use my pain as a paintbrush to make me beautiful on the inside, in a manner that is pleasing to You. I know Your radiance will glow from the inside out. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, amen.
