chocolateismybestfriend
09-28-2006, 02:15 AM
I stumbled across this on someone's blog site, and just loved it so i thought i'd share it with you all.
In her post she also talks about what true Beauty is.... and to be honest with you, it is something I struggle with. Hollywood puts such pressure on girls in this world to meet their standard of "Beauty". It's really not fair to any girl as they change themselves with photoshopping, surgery and tons of make up! - which makes it impossible for us to look like them anyway!! I know we aren't supposed to try to look like Hollywood, but the devil will tell us that's what guys want.
I do believe that I am "pretty", but I also know that I don't meet "Hollywood's standard" of beautiful. I'm just so glad that Hollywood's standard is NOT God's standard!! I was truly encouraged by what she said about true, Biblical Beauty!!
I post it to all you girls praying maybe it will bless someone :)
-----
Inside the heart of every GIRL, I believe, is the deep and passionate desire to one day, the day of her dreams, be the most perfect and beautiful wife and mother possible. To love, and to be loved. To cherish, and to be cherished. To enjoy life to it’s fullest, and to do so with the one prince, whom her heavenly King has picked out for her, since before the foundation of the world.
.
As time goes on, my heart’s desires for those things only get stronger and more definite. I hope... I pray... I dream... And life goes on. But my heart yearns for the day when God will unfold before me the plan He’s had for my womanhood, before I was even born. I’ve often wondered why... Why do I have these strong desires and yearnings now, when there’s no point. Besides, who knows how many years it will be before these feelings can be put to good use? You know, I’ve come to realize it’s God-given, and natural. It would be wrong to push these feelings and emotions away. They were put there, within the deep recesses of my heart, and every other GIRL’s heart, for a purpose... so that she may one day want to be the wife and mother God has called her to be.
.
In an age when true womanhood (by true, I mean biblical) is so looked down upon, and the “career woman” is all that counts, I believe the truth of what the Bible teaches a true lady is, can still be exemplified in our own lives today.I don’t understand how even many professing Christian ladies today, can simply brush-over 1Peter 3:3-5, and act as if that sweet and solid truth does not apply to us today. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women of God, adorned themselves... ” That verse says a lot to me. It says that first of all, the “hidden man of the heart” is what’s important. Not the kind of clothes I wear, how physically beautiful I really am, nor how intelligent I am. No, it’s what’s inside my heart, and my relationship with Jesus, “which is not corruptible”, that counts. That’s why Proverbs 31:26 says “Strength an honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” I also learn for that verse, that “a meek and quiet spirit” is a most beautiful ornament in and of itself. It is so beautiful and attractive, that it will out-shine anything else about me or you, as a Christian young lady. In fact, this “ornament” is so lovely and attractive, that the Scripture says it is in the sight of God “of great price”. I haven’t read many places in Scripture where it talks about someone adorning themselves with an “ornament”, which is in the sight of God “of great price”, either. There is something so sweet, so beautiful, so unique, so feminine, so wonderful about a meek and quiet spirit in a lady. The world has completely thrown out the whole idea of a meek and quiet spirit, and along with it, all of the true beauty and mystique of womanhood. They’ve traded it for all of the cheap trash out there today. The lasting beauty of a woman after God’s own heart is pushed aside as useless and old-fashioned. It’s very sad. Girls, young women, and even older women alike are throwing themselves away for nothing, really. After all, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
.
As I think about what my own future could hold, and what my own dreams and desires are, I’m reminded of Proverbs 31:10-12. For a long time, I was puzzled concerning verse 12. Speaking about the virtuous woman, and her husband, it says: “She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.” Well, I thought, “all” is pretty all-inclusive... but now how does that make sense? She’s certainly not married “all” the days of her life! But when I understood what that verse was really saying, I was so blessed and inspired! Leslie Ludy says it very well in her book “Authentic Beauty: the shaping of a set-apart young woman” :“ ‘Just as you have become set-apart for Me,’ He softly instructed, ‘you must become set-apart for your future husband.’ ... But just as I had learned to live a lifestyle of lily whiteness for my Prince, I soon realized that my commitment to my future husband needed to go far beyond just the physical realm. One day I stumbled upon a verse in Proverbs 31, the chapter in the Bible that describes a wife of godly character. ‘She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.’ The words tugged at my heart... with the patient guidance of my Prince, I determined to live a life that would truly honor this man— to do him good and not harm— even before he came into my life.” —pg.99 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy. Awesome!!! I can start doing my future husband “good” now! That’s why God put in me the desires to be a perfect and beautiful wife and mother now, so that I actually can put them to use now, by honoring him with my pure life and heart, set apart for Jesus only! I think that for any young lady who truly loves Jesus, this is very exciting! OK, maybe I am just “really weird”, but it is exciting for me to think that even though I don’t have a clue what my future holds, my King of kings knows it all, and I can rest in His love. Oh, don’t get me wrong! It’s not always easy for me. In fact, many times it’s been very difficult not questioning the Lord on this or that, especially when I can’t understand why things happen so differently from the way that I would’ve hoped. But He is always there for me, even when I fail (which is often!). I was really blessed recently while reading a poem Elisabeth Elliot wrote in her book, Passion and Purity. She wrote it while waiting upon God to show her direction concerning Jim. She captures the earnest soul’s prayer of commitment and sacrifice in her own prayer to the Lord, very beautifully:
I wait.
Dear Lord, Thy ways Are past finding out,
Thy love too high.
O hold me still Beneath Thy shadow.
It is enough that Thou Lift up the light Of Thy countenance.
I wait—
Because I am commanded So to do.
My mind Is filled with wonderings.
My soul asks “Why?”
But then the quiet word,“Wait thou onlyUpon God.”
And so, not even for the light
To show a step ahead, But for Thee, dear Lord, I wait.
It seems E.E. could see right into my own heart and mind when she penned those words. Waiting on God can be so hard at times. But I know that Jesus knows best for me. And for every other young lady out there, who’s heart beats as mine, He knows best for you, too. He does, He really does. Don’t worry about your future. Instead, give your passions and loves and zeal over your King, who loves you perfectly. Remember, you were worth more to Him than anything else, so He came to earth and died for you. He is preparing your prince for you, and should you never give in to anything other than God’s very best, you will one day see the fulfillment of your dreams. You will; just wait, you’ll see. Keep following Christ with everything you’ve got, and you will never be disappointed!
I believe the passion to be a perfect and beautiful wife and mother is instilled within the heart of each young woman. That is God’s divine design for the female gender. I’ve got a long ways to go before I’ve fully learned to trust my King. But slowly, and painfully at times, He is working on my heart. I desire to hold in my heart that beautiful “ornament” of “great price”, but I know I still have a long and somewhat difficult road up ahead. I’m no great mind, or anything, but these thoughts of mine have weighed on my heart recently, and I hope someone out there is encouraged that you are not the only young lady out there with similar feelings! I just want to encourage and inspire you, not to give up your dreams and passions to be that beautiful young lady of virtue! By all means, strengthen those desires, by falling deeper in love with your King and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In her post she also talks about what true Beauty is.... and to be honest with you, it is something I struggle with. Hollywood puts such pressure on girls in this world to meet their standard of "Beauty". It's really not fair to any girl as they change themselves with photoshopping, surgery and tons of make up! - which makes it impossible for us to look like them anyway!! I know we aren't supposed to try to look like Hollywood, but the devil will tell us that's what guys want.
I do believe that I am "pretty", but I also know that I don't meet "Hollywood's standard" of beautiful. I'm just so glad that Hollywood's standard is NOT God's standard!! I was truly encouraged by what she said about true, Biblical Beauty!!
I post it to all you girls praying maybe it will bless someone :)
-----
Inside the heart of every GIRL, I believe, is the deep and passionate desire to one day, the day of her dreams, be the most perfect and beautiful wife and mother possible. To love, and to be loved. To cherish, and to be cherished. To enjoy life to it’s fullest, and to do so with the one prince, whom her heavenly King has picked out for her, since before the foundation of the world.
.
As time goes on, my heart’s desires for those things only get stronger and more definite. I hope... I pray... I dream... And life goes on. But my heart yearns for the day when God will unfold before me the plan He’s had for my womanhood, before I was even born. I’ve often wondered why... Why do I have these strong desires and yearnings now, when there’s no point. Besides, who knows how many years it will be before these feelings can be put to good use? You know, I’ve come to realize it’s God-given, and natural. It would be wrong to push these feelings and emotions away. They were put there, within the deep recesses of my heart, and every other GIRL’s heart, for a purpose... so that she may one day want to be the wife and mother God has called her to be.
.
In an age when true womanhood (by true, I mean biblical) is so looked down upon, and the “career woman” is all that counts, I believe the truth of what the Bible teaches a true lady is, can still be exemplified in our own lives today.I don’t understand how even many professing Christian ladies today, can simply brush-over 1Peter 3:3-5, and act as if that sweet and solid truth does not apply to us today. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women of God, adorned themselves... ” That verse says a lot to me. It says that first of all, the “hidden man of the heart” is what’s important. Not the kind of clothes I wear, how physically beautiful I really am, nor how intelligent I am. No, it’s what’s inside my heart, and my relationship with Jesus, “which is not corruptible”, that counts. That’s why Proverbs 31:26 says “Strength an honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” I also learn for that verse, that “a meek and quiet spirit” is a most beautiful ornament in and of itself. It is so beautiful and attractive, that it will out-shine anything else about me or you, as a Christian young lady. In fact, this “ornament” is so lovely and attractive, that the Scripture says it is in the sight of God “of great price”. I haven’t read many places in Scripture where it talks about someone adorning themselves with an “ornament”, which is in the sight of God “of great price”, either. There is something so sweet, so beautiful, so unique, so feminine, so wonderful about a meek and quiet spirit in a lady. The world has completely thrown out the whole idea of a meek and quiet spirit, and along with it, all of the true beauty and mystique of womanhood. They’ve traded it for all of the cheap trash out there today. The lasting beauty of a woman after God’s own heart is pushed aside as useless and old-fashioned. It’s very sad. Girls, young women, and even older women alike are throwing themselves away for nothing, really. After all, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
.
As I think about what my own future could hold, and what my own dreams and desires are, I’m reminded of Proverbs 31:10-12. For a long time, I was puzzled concerning verse 12. Speaking about the virtuous woman, and her husband, it says: “She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.” Well, I thought, “all” is pretty all-inclusive... but now how does that make sense? She’s certainly not married “all” the days of her life! But when I understood what that verse was really saying, I was so blessed and inspired! Leslie Ludy says it very well in her book “Authentic Beauty: the shaping of a set-apart young woman” :“ ‘Just as you have become set-apart for Me,’ He softly instructed, ‘you must become set-apart for your future husband.’ ... But just as I had learned to live a lifestyle of lily whiteness for my Prince, I soon realized that my commitment to my future husband needed to go far beyond just the physical realm. One day I stumbled upon a verse in Proverbs 31, the chapter in the Bible that describes a wife of godly character. ‘She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.’ The words tugged at my heart... with the patient guidance of my Prince, I determined to live a life that would truly honor this man— to do him good and not harm— even before he came into my life.” —pg.99 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy. Awesome!!! I can start doing my future husband “good” now! That’s why God put in me the desires to be a perfect and beautiful wife and mother now, so that I actually can put them to use now, by honoring him with my pure life and heart, set apart for Jesus only! I think that for any young lady who truly loves Jesus, this is very exciting! OK, maybe I am just “really weird”, but it is exciting for me to think that even though I don’t have a clue what my future holds, my King of kings knows it all, and I can rest in His love. Oh, don’t get me wrong! It’s not always easy for me. In fact, many times it’s been very difficult not questioning the Lord on this or that, especially when I can’t understand why things happen so differently from the way that I would’ve hoped. But He is always there for me, even when I fail (which is often!). I was really blessed recently while reading a poem Elisabeth Elliot wrote in her book, Passion and Purity. She wrote it while waiting upon God to show her direction concerning Jim. She captures the earnest soul’s prayer of commitment and sacrifice in her own prayer to the Lord, very beautifully:
I wait.
Dear Lord, Thy ways Are past finding out,
Thy love too high.
O hold me still Beneath Thy shadow.
It is enough that Thou Lift up the light Of Thy countenance.
I wait—
Because I am commanded So to do.
My mind Is filled with wonderings.
My soul asks “Why?”
But then the quiet word,“Wait thou onlyUpon God.”
And so, not even for the light
To show a step ahead, But for Thee, dear Lord, I wait.
It seems E.E. could see right into my own heart and mind when she penned those words. Waiting on God can be so hard at times. But I know that Jesus knows best for me. And for every other young lady out there, who’s heart beats as mine, He knows best for you, too. He does, He really does. Don’t worry about your future. Instead, give your passions and loves and zeal over your King, who loves you perfectly. Remember, you were worth more to Him than anything else, so He came to earth and died for you. He is preparing your prince for you, and should you never give in to anything other than God’s very best, you will one day see the fulfillment of your dreams. You will; just wait, you’ll see. Keep following Christ with everything you’ve got, and you will never be disappointed!
I believe the passion to be a perfect and beautiful wife and mother is instilled within the heart of each young woman. That is God’s divine design for the female gender. I’ve got a long ways to go before I’ve fully learned to trust my King. But slowly, and painfully at times, He is working on my heart. I desire to hold in my heart that beautiful “ornament” of “great price”, but I know I still have a long and somewhat difficult road up ahead. I’m no great mind, or anything, but these thoughts of mine have weighed on my heart recently, and I hope someone out there is encouraged that you are not the only young lady out there with similar feelings! I just want to encourage and inspire you, not to give up your dreams and passions to be that beautiful young lady of virtue! By all means, strengthen those desires, by falling deeper in love with your King and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.