You're Beautiful...

When is the last time you were told you're beautiful? I wonder how many of us truly feel beautiful. I mean really beautiful. I think if we were totally honest, we all struggle with wanting to look and feel beautiful, but believe we fall so short of being truly beautiful. But, what if, no matter what we believe, the truth was that we were amazingly beautiful? That no matter what we think or feel about ourselves and no matter what we've been told, we possess a beauty beyond words? Breathtaking, really. And, it's not something we can buy, produce or maintain. We are beautiful, because He says so. Period. And, His opinion is the only one that really matters. Besides, He's the only one that really knows what beauty is really all about. He knew what He was doing when He created us. No matter what you do or think, there could not be a more beautiful you. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, we're taught that other people's opinion is the one that matters. And, throughout our lives we learn to measure ourselves to the standards of this world to determine our beauty. We end up spending so much time and energy chasing after things we think will make us beautiful. We try to keep age from stealing what beauty we believe we have. It becomes an endless and exhausting effort just to hold on to it, even if for a moment. For so many of us, because of what's been done to us, how we were raised, or how others feel about us, we've bought the lie that we'll never measure up to true beauty.

But, what is true beauty? For most of us the definition of "True Beauty" consists of something very fleeting and temporary. We forget or are just never taught about the beauty that lies beneath the surface of our physical bodies. God says it's what's in the heart that matters and that what's on the outside is a lot less significant than what's in the heart. I know it's easier said than done. We want to feel beautiful and this world is very clear about your physical appearance holding the majority of your "Beauty" stock. As a result, we believe our interpretation of what the mirror says - that we're just not beautiful. This is a dangerous line of thinking, because it hurts our ability to accomplish the purpose God created us for. It destroys our confidence in Him and in ourselves to follow His leading in our lives. We hold back in so many areas of our lives and we begin to believe that we have nothing to offer. Over time, this thinking can begin to erode any close relationships we have, both with people and God.

Whatever happened to beauty being in the eye of the beholder? And, when it comes to beholders there's none with a more accurate opinion than God. I love what the Psalmist said in Psalms 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” You are fearfully and wonderfully made and make no mistake about it, there could not be a more beautiful you. Jonny Diaz sums this up so well in his new song, "More Beautiful You". If you would like to find out more, please click here; http://www.jonnydiaz.com/

Because of Him and what He has done, you are truly beautiful!


Joe Buchanan serves New Life Media as Network Music Director. www.newlifemedia.org