TRUE BEAUTY IS...Extra from Volume 10#3 |
by Elizabeth B. and Sarah M. True Beauty Is: A joyful heart. True joy comes from God. {Ps. 16:11} We cannot have a truly joyful heart apart from a life surrendered to Christ. {John 15: 11, 1 John 1:4} Things don’t have to be going our way for us to have true joy. {1Peter 1:6-8} The Lord says that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. {Proverb 17:22} One could say that a joyful heart is the best face cream! There is an old saying which says, JOY, Jesus first, you last, and others between. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” {Neh. 8:10} How do we maintain a joyful heart? By guarding our hearts. {Proverb 4:23} As soon as we notice an unjoyful {pity party} thought we acknowledge that it’s wrong and change it out for a joyful thought. The “poor me, I’m the only who has to do this,” OR “I’m so blessed that the Lord lets me serve my family in this way.” “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice.” [Phil. 4:4} True Beauty Is: Thankful Sight. We are thankful when we realize who God is. {Rev. 17:11} Thankful eyes see the world around them, yes, but they also see that God is bigger. { Ps. 62: 5-8} When we truly see the Lord, we can’t help but have a heart overflowing with gratitude {2Cor. 9:15} How do we maintain a thankful heart? By keeping our eyes on God rather than ourselves. Pride and despair, both denigrate the Lord’s power. We need to keep our eyes on the greatness of the Lord, not our own petty issues. Mark Buchanan says this: “You’re rehearsing the problem, making it seem larger than it is, when what you need to do is rehearse God’s greatness and bigness. Then the problem shrinks to it’s right portions.” “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” {2Thess. 5:18}. True Beauty Is: A Humble Attitude. A humble and meek person truly shines with beauty. Humility is the best clothing: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” {1 Peter 5:5 b} My {Elizabeth} sister Anna is a wonderful example of this. She is always quiet and humble and meek. She encourages me to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” {1 Peter 5:6} Humbleness also means speaking respectfully to our parents, elders, indeed, everyone! Humbleness is realizing your our faults and not trying to blame someone else for your problems. How do we maintain a humble attitude? One definition of humbleness in Vine’s expository of Bible words is “lowliness of mind.” In other words, not thinking too highly of one’s self. It’s good to be thankful of your gifts, talents, etc., but we should not be too proud or haughty of them. Ask God to give you a humble attitude and remind yourself that you are God’s humble servant. “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.’” {Luke 1: 38a} A humble daughter of the King is a pleasure to be around, and a joy to see. So many daughters today have caught on to the world’s view of acting disrespectfully toward their parents and those older than themselves. Our goal as daughter should be to show the world what a humble, meek, and Christian sister and daughter should be. What a beautiful sight it is to see a daughter walking in the humbleness, joy, and thankfulness of a Christian life! True Beauty Is: Kindness. Kindness is a beautiful virtue, that needs to be practiced more often in our day. Proverbs 31:26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” How do we maintain a kind tongue? A good rule to follow is: Think before you speak. Even if you feel like saying something mean or angry, always try to answer with kindness. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.” {Proverbs 15:1} Sometimes, we get impatient with younger brothers and sisters, and don’t feel like being or speaking kindly to them. But it’s important to try to imagine how the other person feels when you speak to them. This will help you remember to speak kindly. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart.” {Matt. 5:18} Also, remember that kindness can be actions as well as words. A bouquet of flowers for your mother, a note for your father, little things can make a big difference! “Put on, then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” {Col. 3:12} True Beauty Is: A matter of the heart, when it comes right down to it. {1Peter 3:3-4} May God Bless You! |
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