LIWD :: day 59 :: Imitations

There are many imitations of a true pearl, but with years, the shiny pearl paint cracks and wears off and all that is left is an unattractive bead hanging on a string.  God's Spirit, however, produces true inner beauty, as you confess your sin, avoid displeasing God's Spirit, obey even the slightest of His promptings, and give the Holy Spirit full control of your life.  Pearls of godly character take time to develop, but how blessed is the woman adorned by them.

You can settle for an imitation necklace of fake pearls by trying to simply cover over ungodly character, or you can allow the Holy Spirit to use the sands of singleness to create the real thing.  If you want a cheap imitation, a modeling or charm school will be sufficient for what you seek.  But if you want genuine pearls, you must allow the Holy Spirit to perform a special work in your life.  Determine to string lovely pearl "necklace of virtue" as a treasure for your Lord.

"Providing lasting pleasure

potential beyond measure,

the rarest of treasure,

a reputation of virtuous character."

JMK

...if you want genuine pearls, you must allow the Holy Spirit to perform a special work in your life.

Have you ever met someone who was so beautiful, so attractive, but then once you spoke to them, or got to know them a little, thought how ugly they were? I have.

The way you hold yourself, the way you convey yourself to others shows your true beauty...or ugliness, as the case may be. We are all capable of being ugly people...just as we are all capable of being beautiful. I am lucky to have a few friends who truly brighten the room when they enter into it. Their love for Jesus shines so brightly in everything they do, I can't help but smile when they are around. Do you have anyone in your life like that? Someone whose inner beauty is so great that it flows out of their pores? I long to be that someone.

So, how do we do that? How do we become someone who radiates beauty from the inside out? Someones whose light is infectious? Someone whose smile brightens a room? It won't come from working out, or dressing up, or styling our hair, or doing our make-up. It won't come from focusing on what others find appealing. It won't come from trying to please this world.

It will come if we forsake ourselves and our selfish wants for our Maker. When we can truly give ourselves, our lives and everything that comes with it, to our Savior and let Him rule our lives, we will start to shine His light. When we forsake our will for His, when we do what is pleasing to Him and not the way of the world, only then will we truly become beautiful on the inside.

You can primp all you want. You can spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on beautifying your outward appearance, but it all means nothing if you are ugly on the inside. Where is your time spent? Are you obsessing over that zit? Or are you trying to overcome your malicious tongue? Are you spending an hour every day on perfecting your curls? Or are you spending an hour every day in His word?

I know I'm not perfect and I know I never will be. But I know an hour spent with my God is much more gratifying than an hour spent primping.