ME workout with a personal trainer? Are you kidding? Warning: if you use your imagination, the contents in this devotion may cause you to laugh so hard you may wet your pants…well never mind. His name was D-Rock and can I be candid? He looked just like something off of a butter commercial. Young, dark eyes, tan, and yes he had a six pack. You could see it right through his t-shirt along with the muscles on his arms, legs, and even around his ankles! I was well over 40 and it was obvious that my body had been drooping in places I never knew it could possibly droop! And then there was Spanx (ughhh, never worked for me) that just squishes it all out!! Determined to slow down the aging process I relentlessly called him up and scheduled an appointment. That first night he worked out muscles I never even knew existed, all the while I was trying to act refined by sucking in my stomach tightly and holding everything as upright and in place as I could. I thanked him and headed straight for the bathroom. PROBLEM, I couldn’t squat!! Frustrated, I got in the car & headed home.
An hour later I found myself lying on an emergency room table with my husband and my friend Phyllis by my side. To save me embarrassment, the doctor gave it a fancy diagnosis. I knew what he was thinking, the same thing I was. Are you crazy? What are you trying to prove? You’re whipped, and not to mention you feel like your about to die!! D-Rock had done a great job, I had just failed to tell him I hadn’t eaten all day. I was so engrossed with trying to make myself look better on the outside that I had failed to fuel up and take care of the inside.
Just being candid, I have tried it all! Atkins, cracker diets, no starch, no meats, no sweets, shakes and the lists goes on. You know, I was concentrating all my efforts on trying to be beautiful and improve my outward appearance, yet I was a failure on the inside. A crumbling marriage, success and goal driven, priorities out of line, always caring about what others think, using disrespectful words to my spouse….. trying to impress so many people, but not the two people I should have been seeking two impress, my God and my husband.
I was doing it all wrong! The deepest beauty does not come from cosmetics, jewelry, working out, or basking in the sun, but the deepest beauty by far is the beauty of the soul. Don’t misunderstand me, it is not wrong to desire outside beauty. Hey, I still get my nails done, and my hairdresser Jamie knows I am going to be there every Friday at 8:30, and you will always see me with jeans and high heels. At the end of the day everyone wants to look better, BUT looking better from God’s point of view begins on the inside and not the outside. Sometimes I have to see my flaws and recognize that I am a sinner and seek for God to change whatever is wrong from within. Mirror, Mirror on my wall, my GOD finds me beautiful, even when I fall. That, my friend, is what matters most of all.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Samuel 16:7
About Beverly
Love being in the battle with you via FL!
Really loved this. Lights going on all over my house…thanks.
I like what you have wrote today, but what happens if a person doesn’t like theirselve on the inside or outside how can they enpress God or thier husbands?
Neta, I have been right where you are speaking of. For YEARS I struggled with low self esteem & seeking approval from others. It was not until I prayed and sought God from DELIVERANCE from this attack that I was able to understand TRUE beauty. You are right. YES, this CAN effect the way you look at your Marriage. Neta, I needed to understand that my husband, my friends, my family they could not fulfill all my needs!That EMPTINESS I had could not be filled by any man or beauty care product. There is only one man who can do that & his name is Jesus. There were nights I wept at the end of my bed & I prayed God change me to be more like you. I got in the word & I was desperate to seek God & know God more & THEN is when the change came about. I started to feel valued, like I had a true purpose & that self confidence & empowerment that I had received from the word eventually spelled over into my marriage. I am praying for you today. I pray that God will surround you with godly people who will encourage & lift you up. I pray that you will sense the true love of Christ & KNOW that you are beautiful. Oh by the way, you don’t have to impress God. He loves us just the way we are. Our flaws & all! Bev
Just so you know…you are beautiful on the inside and out!! Love ya, Carla