The term “true beauty” gets thrown
around a lot, especially on social media platforms. Over the past few
days I have been pondering on this and wondering whether I really
understand what beauty is.
As Christian women we understand true
beauty comes only from Jesus, and He is the only One who makes beauty
possible for us. Only He can change our hearts. Yes, we know very
well, but it does not mean we do not sometimes get deceived along
with the rest of the world. The woman who has a pretty face, always
smiles, is friendly and never rude is generally perceived as the one
who has a beautiful heart. In short, the “nice” girl always gets
credited as being the epitome of true beauty. But – does the Bible ever make
mention of “nice” women? Is “nice” one of the characteristics
mentioned in scriptures describing a godly woman? Wait – it is not
even one of the fruits of the spirit? Would you ever think of someone
who smiles at you when in your presence, but gossips about you when
you turn your back as someone with a beautiful heart? Would you think
someone who has a beautiful heart, if they see you going down the
wrong path and know better, but keeps quiet as they watch you walking
straight into destruction?
The most remarkable women in the Bible
are known for their virtue, pure hearts, submission, compassion and
most of all... unconditional
devotion to Jesus. In their genuine pursuit of their Saviour, He was
able to change their hearts and make them godly women.
How
many of us young women know a pretty face and a "nice"
personality do not equal a beautiful heart and a gentle & quiet
spirit? How many of our young men are easily deceived by what they
see on the surface, failing to dig a little deeper and discover a
girl's heart? "True beauty" is about more than what meets
the eye - and is certainly about more than a "nice"
personality. The nicest person in the world can also have the most
selfish, jealous and deceptive heart. If you want to be able to
distinguish between genuine beauty and artificial beauty, get away
from the cosmetics, surgery and appearances, and get with the One who
is the Author of beauty. He will not only teach you; He will give His
beauty to you. They say beauty comes from the inside...but what - or
should I say who - exactly is inside of you? Is the Holy Spirit
actively living in you? Are you allowing Him to transform you from
the inside out?
Sometimes,
we focus so much on looking like nice people in the eyes of others,
we forget to be genuine, loving, authentic and Jesus-like.
Eventually, what is truly inside of our hearts will overflow; and if
our focus is on Jesus, our hearts will certainly overflow with Him.
“Charm
is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord
is to be praised.” – Proverbs
31 v 30
[photo source: Shannon Lee Miller]
Danelle Vingtas is the Founder of South African based young women’s ministry, Proverbs 31 Sisterhood. Through her testimony she is determined to show the love of Jesus to the young women of this generation. She believes that knowing your worth in Christ is not only the door to a better self-image and future, but more importantly...a better eternity.
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