Beauty Within

Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, HCSB)

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you – the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, ERV)

Don’t focus on decorating your exterior by doing your hair or putting on fancy jewelry or wearing fashionable clothes; let your adornment be what’s inside – the real you, the lasting beauty of a gracious and quiet spirit, in which God delights. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, VOICE)

It is what is inside that determines a person’s beauty, not the way that the exterior is decorated. The things that God deems beautiful are characteristics that grow as we invest our hearts and minds in knowing more of Him. The better we know the Lord, the more beautiful our hearts become. A gentle spirit that is full of grace rises up in us to be shared with those around us. The most beautiful people that I have ever known had hearts that were loving and kind, gentle and full of grace. Their beauty was not determined by the outside, but rather by the love their heart could not help but share. Incredibly, the interior seems to glow outward, making the whole human beautiful. May we ever seek the Lord to adorn our hearts with His character – love, grace, gentleness and peace, for it is such things that make us beautiful in His eyes.

May beauty and grace,

Be what’s in our hearts;

Characteristics,

In love God imparts.

For when we give grace,

God’s love is made clear;

Good overwhelming,

As gentle comes near.

Lord, help us focus,

On that which will last;

Beautiful spirits,

That show that love lasts.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that true beauty comes from within. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to seek You to grow our heart more like Yours, or have placed our focus on the exterior, rather than on what truly lasts. Teach us to always seek and invest our hearts and time in You, so that we may more clearly reflect who You are to the world. Lead us in Your gentleness and grace to love those around us as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to increase the beauty within, and lead us to love as You love each of us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

By His breath the heavens gained their beauty… – Job 26:13a

What We’re Meant to Wear

God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle and patient. – (Colossians 3:12, ERV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, NIV)

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. – (Colossians 3:12, MSG)

 

As followers and disciples of Christ, we are made holy and among His dearly loved. Just as Jesus is merciful, kind, humble, gentle and patient with us, we are called to do likewise with others. We ought to clothe ourselves with Christ’s characteristics, so that those around us might come to know the lavish love that is available to all who call on His Name. May we each be adorned in the attributes of the Almighty, so that compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline are our everyday orders of operation, granting opportunity for the lives around us to come to know the mercy and grace that give new life.

 

As we’ve been chosen,

Made holy in You;

Help us to rise up,

Walk well in the new.

Help us show mercy,

Be gentle and kind;

Humble and patient,

With Your will in mind.

Let what matters most,

Be that we wear well;

The garments of grace,

That Your story tell.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You and place our lives in Your hands, You call us Your chosen and holy people. Thank You that as such, You grant us the grace to be clothed in kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, just as You so generously give unto us. Forgive us for not extending these to those who offend, hurt or irritate us as we should. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would show mercy to others, just as You have been merciful to us. Show us how to love those around us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, so that they might come to know the depth and breadth of Your amazing love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to clothe us in the wardrobe that You have designed for us, and trust You to help us wear it well. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For the Lord your God will bless you, …and your joy will be complete. – Deuteronomy 16:15

Modeling Our Maker – The Beauty of Mothers

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. – (Psalm 145:8)

 

These four attributes of God, are characteristics that I am grateful to understand cleary, as they have been modeled well by my mother. Her mother, my grandmother, is also a woman with a heart after the Lord, who demonstrates grace and compassion, is slow to anger and abounds in love.

 

Our heritage to pass on, is dictated by how we live. If we want our children to extend grace to others, we must be quick to be gracious with them. Compassion for others is learned through modeling a life that loves and serves where needs are seen. Though some have shorter fuses that others, we can teach kids how to cope with anger and frustration, so that they learn how to respond appropriately, rather than lashing out at the onset. When love is abundantly given, it cannot help but spill over to all who are around the one who is lavished in love. The amazing grace of God covers all of our shortcomings, and He can grow in each of us, His heart for others, and His attributes, even if they were not modeled for us. May we each go forth with grace and compassion, being slow to anger and generous in love.

 

In the heart of those,

who will heed His call;

He pours out His love,

extends grace to all.

These priceless treasures,

there are none other;

than the one He gave,

whom we call Mother.

Be it by our birth,

or through sacrifice;

she’s the one who loves,

us for our whole life.

For those in spirit,

who in love, speak truth;

who walk beside us,

grant grace each day, new.

Thank You, dear Jesus,

for the moms You give;

Your blessings made known,

of how we’re to live.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful blessing that mothers are in our lives. Thank You for the privilege that it is to be a mom. Thank You that You provide spiritual moms for those who don’t have access to mothers who know You, or who are not nearby. Thank You that You are gracious and compassionate, patient and loving. Thank You that You birth in us, as believers, the very same attributes. Forgive us for not extending grace where we should have, for lacking compassion where it was needed, for growing angry quickly when we ought not have, and for not extending Your lavish love to all whom we encounter. Teach us to trust You more and to move mightily in the love and the grace that You so lavishly give. May many come to know You through the kindness we extend. Be glorified in all that we say and do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me. – Psalm 54:4