Have you ever listened to the complaints of women around you? “I wish my stomach was smaller-my arms are flabby-my skin is blotchy-I hate my hair-look how wide my thighs are.” Many women today focus more on what is on the outside, than they focus on what is on the inside.
True beauty of a woman is not seen in her clothes, her figure, her make-up, or her hair. True beauty is reflected through her eyes and her smiles by the Holy Spirit. Nate Dircks said, “Beauty is when you look into a woman’s eyes and see what is in her heart.”
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said, “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
If you want that inner beauty to shine through your life, here are a few tips to remember:
- Don’t entertain negative thoughts. Practice taking those thoughts captive. (II Corinthians 10:5) If a shameful memory from the past enters your mind, realize that it was placed there by the devil. Mentally think, “You are not welcome here in my mind.” Take that thought and escort it out the back door of your mind. Accept the fact that you are forgiven and refuse to allow your mind to dwell on that shameful thought again.
- Take time during the day for quiet reflection on God’s Word. Just five minutes a day of meditating and reflecting on God’s precepts will be enough to keep you feeling refreshed and spiritually alive.
- Stop feeding your fears. Don’t let your inner voice tell you that the worst case scenario is just around the corner. When you are placed in uncertain and uncomfortable situations, silence those inner voices that tell you to be fearful.
- Surround yourself with things that help you think good thoughts. Read inspirational books written by victorious Christians who share stories of hope, miracles, and victory.
- Listen to uplifting Christian music.
- Spend more time communicating with spiritual friends who encourage and support you.
- Be a person who smiles and says hello to strangers. Brighten someone’s day with a card or flowers. The world has enough angry, bitter people in it.
- Let someone else in front of you in line at the grocery store.
- Do periodical random acts of kindness.
- If you’re holding a grudge or grievance against someone, let it go. Write them a letter that expresses your hurt and frustration and then tear it up. It’s a way of physically releasing someone from their crime and spiritually freeing yourself from the burden of being angry at the same time. Take a moment afterwards to reflect on that person as a fallible human being just like you are— prone to make mistakes and in need of your grace. It will help you see him or her through the eyes of God.