Thursday, October 22, 2009

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

What do you see when you look in the mirror each day? A hunk, a hot babe, or a pimple-faced nobody? The mirror can be your friend or foe on any given day, but it can never capture the true essence of who you really are. Neither can it clearly show you how God sees you.

There is so much pressure to live up to the ideals of beauty we see in magazines and on TV. If you don't wear this or that, you aren't cool. If you are a girl, you probably think that the less clothing you wear and the more makeup you put on, the more guys will want you. But is that kind of attention you really want from the guys you know? Guys are just as caught up in this image game. After all, they want to be attractive, too. What guy do you know who doesn't want to turn a head or two when he's hanging out with his friends? They are always on the hunt and crave attention just as much as girls do.

Doesn't it wear you out trying to live up to the beauty standards of others? Don't you realize that you are a unique creation of God and that he loves you just the way you are, acne and all? God doesn't require that you put on makeup or dress a certain way in order for him to love and accept you. You don't have to have a certain body shape or hair color to catch his attention. He simply loves you because you are his child. The Bible tells us, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:3-4). That doesn't mean that a little lipstick and blush are bad; it simply means that the more others see God shining through you, the more beautiful you truly become.

It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. The next time you look into the mirror, try looking deep into your own eyes instead of at the freckles on your face or the cowlick in your hair. What do you see? Ask God to let you see yourself through his eyes. You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), who set the standard for beauty and modesty. Don't tarnish his image by dressing inappropriately or hiding behind too much makeup. He loves and desires you just the way you are. As Jonny Diaz so well puts it: "There could never be a more beautiful you!"

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