Battling 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 consistently evolving. For essentially the most half, magnificence has been restricted to our outward look. After we are all dolled up, we would really feel stunning or obtain compliments that don’t come as incessantly 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 always means skinny and tall with all the precise curves in all the precise locations, freed from stretch marks, muffin tops, and different blemishes. It has even gone so far as guaranteeing physique varieties, nostril shapes, eye colours, or options “traits.”
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 stay as much as the ever-changing magnificence requirements round us (if you wish to battle these lies, be certain that to be taught how to take your thoughts captive).
This has led many to change their physique and face, whether or not briefly via make-up and equipment or completely via surgical procedure and train, to realize these specific concepts of magnificence.
Sadly, the sweetness epidemic we stay in is shortly creating discontentment, low self-esteem, comparability, envy, division, and resentment within the hearts of many who really feel that they fall wanting this unreachable, and unrealistic normal.
The world’s definition of magnificence creates such an unrealistic expectation that it destroys so many ladies’s body image.
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 additionally leads us away from what true magnificence actually appears like.
On the one hand, it’s necessary for us, particularly as Christians to know that what God creates is sweet, and that He created us. He formed every one among us, and He made us in His wisdom, and love.
We’re at the beginning made in God’s picture, which implies that all of us have inherent worth that nobody can take away from us, and it doesn’t change every time we don’t match the invoice for the subsequent widespread magnificence pattern.
However, it is usually necessary to comprehend that a lot of the world’s obsession with outward magnificence is actually an obsession with self (I’m certain you’ve seen the massive push towards self-love, particularly with regards to our our bodies). The world appears inward, and fixes its eyes on itself.
On this planet, what you appear to be on the surface is supposed to offer you validation, and is what is concentrated on as a strategy to enhance your confidence and vanity. Basically, it’s the way you earn your value.
However Scripture teaches us a distinct form of magnificence.
That magnificence will not be fixated on outward appearances and isn’t obsessive about self. As Christians, our value comes from Christ and is unshakable.
We should always completely handle 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 in opposition to making magnificence an idol.
- How do these issues possess us?
- Can we really feel like we are able to’t stay with out it?
- Are we depending on it to really feel stunning?
- 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 stunning, listed here are just a few 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 necessary to begin 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 a lot of cases the place scripture talks about what a snare it’s to concern man. A distinct phrase we would use for that is “folks pleasing.”
But when our first precedence is to concern God, reasonably than to concern man, we’ve to ask ourselves what it’s that God appears like. On this verse the subsequent king of Israel is being chosen, and one among 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 may be. God hadn’t chosen him for that individual 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, we’ve 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 fantastic, I do know that full nicely.”
Have you ever ever regarded within the mirror and brought a second to offer God reward for a way He has created you? I do know it’s typically simpler to look within the mirror and select all of the issues that you simply may be dissatisfied about.
However how would our mindset change in 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 stunning, or we don’t stay as much as the world’s normal, or maybe we do stay as much as the world’s normal, our magnificence will not be measured by these opinions and even our personal opinion. It’s primarily based on the truth that we’ve been created by God. What he creates is sweet.
I 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 goal, to know and revere Him. He made us uniquely and crafted us superbly.
3. Proverbs 31:30
“Attraction is misleading, and wonder is fleeting; however a lady who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Most of us have heard of, or learn Proverbs 31 sooner or later in our lives. Every time we hear of that scripture our minds could shortly simply flip to ” The Proverbs 31 girl.” You may typically discover this passage mentioned and studied in ladies’s teams and Bible research.
For essentially the most half, it has served as a tenet to us of what a godly girl appears like, and the form of spouse Solomon is instructing his son to search for.
It’s wonderful that admits all the 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 keep in mind that allure might be misleading. It could seem like one thing that it’s not, it could appear to be it is going to result in life however may steer you into the claws of demise.
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 may well’t be the one or most necessary 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 direction of God is one among reverence and awe. That’s the form of magnificence that ought to be valued and praised.
4. 1 Peter 3:3-4
“Your magnificence shouldn’t come from outward adornments, comparable to braided hair and the carrying of gold jewellery and effective garments. As an alternative, it ought to be that of your inside self, the unfading fantastic thing about a mild and quiet spirit, which is of nice value in God’s sight.”
Typically this verse can simply be taken out of context, so earlier than we speak about what it means, it’s essential to speak about what it doesn’t imply. When Peter refers to those outward adornments and equipment, he isn’t telling ladies that they’re not allowed to braid their hair, put on gold jewellery or effective clothes.
As an alternative, he says that the fantastic thing about a lady shouldn’t come from these items. In different phrases, it shouldn’t be our sole focus, and what we rely on for our magnificence. We will do our hair, and put on stunning clothes, however that isn’t what our essential focus is or what provides us worth.
He reminds us that what’s going on inside us is what we regularly overlook with a view to give attention to what’s on the surface. However we’ve all of it twisted.
It’s the inside self, the center that’s after Christ, and submits to His reign in her life that really begins to radiate the one magnificence that lives on without end.
On this planet, all the pieces is commonly put collectively completely on the surface, whereas the within is uncared for. Although the world locations a number of worth on the outward look, this isn’t what strikes the center of God.
It’s a mild and quiet spirit, one which doesn’t want the eye or approval of the world, however seeks solely to stay for her Lord. This coronary heart, this inward place, reasonably than the outward look, is valuable in God’s sight.
