real beauty

I knew Beth Moore was awesome, but geez louise, she is knocking my socks off with this Esther study! Some of us girls at Genesis (our church's young adult ministry) are going through the book of Esther with good ole Beth over the summer, and I am really enjoying it! She is so real about the struggles of being a woman, but also the JOYS of being a woman! I love it!!

One of the things from the second session that really stuck out to me was when she said (paraphrasing):

When God looks at you and says, "wow! she's beautiful!" He is looking directly at your heart

Now, I'm a good little Christian girl who grew up in a good little Christian home, and I've definitely heard that Christ doesn't look on the outward appearance, but instead, he looks at the heart.  But I've always associated that with when God is trying to look at our heart..when He wants to see what's in there, whether to judge or to rejoice.  But I've NEVER thought about God looking at me and seeing my heart as who i am.

Am I the only one rejoicing here?  I've realized that God looks at me and sees my heart.  

If that's where God is looking, then THAT is who I truly am.   

The world may look at my outside and think they can determine who I am, but they're misled.  I AM MY HEART.  My outward beauty may have its ups and downs, it may fade and disappear with time, but the beauty of ME can last...I am the me that only God can fully know.  And I want who I really am to be beautiful.

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us" (Psalm 90:17 NKJV)