BEAUTY BEYOND ASHES.

Inner beauty.

For God does not look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Today, we discuss the essence of maintaining our true beauty in the sight of God. 

In 1 Samuel 16, God sent Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the new king of Israel. When Samuel arrived, he was awed by the stature of Jesse's first son and said, "This must be the Lord's chosen one." This was the Lord's reply, “... Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the  Lord  does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ "

In the long run, David, the shepherd boy, was the one chosen as king over the Lord’s people.

 This teaches us that many things we may perceive as unworthy in life, from the perspective of God, can actually be chosen by Him.

This post is intended to uplift all those who may feel insignificant or undervalued because of negative remarks made about them. The Lord says, in I Peter‬ ‭2:9,‬ "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" NKJV.

 As the word of God elucidates, the Lord looks beyond outward appearances and focuses on the condition of our hearts. It is from the depths of our hearts that our inner beauty emanates and shines forth. We can maintain our inner beauty by living a life pleasing to God. 

Do you know that the natural condition of the heart is desperately evil? Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

Matthew 15:18-19 also tells us something about our heart: "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander."

The Lord desires to change our hearts and make us holy. He says in Ezekiel 36:26-27,

 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

This is how our hearts are changed by God: 2 Corinthians 5:17,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 

Romans 10:9-10,

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

By drawing closer to God and surrendering our will to Him, we have our hearts purified and beautified. 

You are the Lord's special person. This call to be chosen by God is for everyone on the surface of this earth. I hope you have responded to this call by surrendering totally unto the Lord and making Him Lord of your life.

Romans 12:2,

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

 If you want to surrender unto the Lord, please say this short prayer... "Dear Lord, I thank you for my life and for sending your Son Jesus to die for me. I admit that I have sinned. Please come into my life and make me whole. Please help me build a good relationship with you through prayer and the Word. I praise your name forevermore in Jesus' name, amen."