-children play with a doll that in human form would die malnourished and be in a wheel chair due to dispropotioned body weight. Her legs could not support her.
-preteens roam through shopping malls and enter stores with half dressed models on the walls which are airbrushed, altered bodies.
-teens watch TV, rank themselves by comparison to the latest fashions, strive to be like the person sitting across from them at lunch and work to attain the body seen in magazines and models (which weigh 23 percent less than the average woman in society).
-boys strive to be strong, agile, gain muscle definement, wear the good looking clothes and smell just right for the girls to come a little closer. They see the girls make over the latest singer, athlete or movie star and compete for attention.
-middle age seek to find the latest diet to keep from gaining the "freshmen 15", losing metabolism after 30 or simply wanting to be a certain number to attract a significant other.
-as one gets older, they look to stop the aging process with a cream or a surgery. And they dare not leave the house without covering blemishes/wrinkles with lots of makeup.
Satan loves to hear all these messages feeding the spirit of our being. With each lie implanted in our mind, his foothold grows bigger. Unfortunately, God's Truth slips further away. How do we stop this madness? What can we do to build each other up and see the true beauty within ourselves? When will we stop believing the mirror and start believing His Word?
"Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord." (Psalm 45:11)
honor him, for he is your lord." (Psalm 45:11)
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
(Psalm 31:30)
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
I have not set foot in a mall for years, but went with my mom and sister yesterday and walked away disturbed. Girls in lingerie, bras and underwear plastered the walls of the mall. The walls advertised a new store coming soon. Wow, really? Our little girls and boys do not ignore these images. The boys may believe half dressed, small and petite equals beauty and look only at appearance to feel attraction to another. The girls may feel a need to live up to the size of this model and if they do not, then they will remain alone and unworthy of a second glance. Certain "health food" stores no longer advertise the vitamins and nutritious items needed to nourish our bodies; they advertise body building, endurance enhancing products and pills to increase metabolism. They sell pills to rid your body of the food you eat so to not gain weight from it. Or their shelves stock items to supplement meals.
Advertising draws others in by using words such as sexy, thin, get ripped, feel better or look better. Really? Do you think a pill will create beauty or increase your worth? NO! These are all lies which society shoves down our throats at the youngest of ages. Begin to replace each lie with His Truth - He is enthralled by the beauty of His Creation (that is YOU!), He created YOU in His image, YOUR inner beauty is unfading (this is where your worth is found), Eternal glory far outweighs a bad hair day or a number on the scale!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND HANDSOME IN THE EYES OF YOUR MAKER!!!
Don't avoid these messages or images. Speak to the younger generation about them. Bring out the lies and build others up with His Truth. God did not create us in a factory setting. He did not produce uniform products. He made no mistakes when He carefully knit each of us together in the womb. Each one of His Works show perfection. Praise Him for loving each of us enough to create variety. Praise Him for your body, your purpose and focus on the worth found only through Him. As we age, our shell wrinkles, sags, grows tired and some things quit working; BUT, know this with each day that passes, God renews your soul to prepare you to come and be with Him for Eternity. Keep focused on the prize.
God, thank you for this day. Thank You for breathing life into this little ole girl. I spent way too many years looking in all the wrong directions for worth. All I needed to do was look up and see Your hand reaching out to hold. Thank You for not giving up on me with each time I denied Your Truth. Fill me with Your Word so I may continue to combat every lie of this world. Use me as a vessel for Your Truths. I love You.
Keep praying harder than the devil can work.
Sheree Craig
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