As a writer, sometimes inspiration comes out of unexpected, deep thought. I have a small-sized Five Star notebook in my purse and a pink note-pad in my book bag for head-exploding moments. I admit that there are times that I pretend to take notes in class when I'm really writing out my thoughts. I can't help it. Below are the results of not listening to the summary of 1 & 2 Samuel in my Old Testament class.
I wonder why so many of us feel that we need to present ourselves in a way that gives an aura of perfection. It certainly isn't a true representation of ourselves as we are people who are truly imperfect.
Perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect closet, perfect grades, perfect influence, perfect love life, perfect belongings, perfect dorm/apartment, perfect car, perfect body, perfect social media image, perfect performances, perfectly balanced schedule....everything has to look put together. Isn't that tiring? And oh, so untrue might I add..
This unnecessary work to be put together is a survival tactic to "get by" in society. A yearning for acceptance will not fill a void in our hearts.
I see a lot of Christian girls (including myself) striving to be this particular image of a "good girl". Like the images above, we like to portray ourselves as beautiful, organized, independent, and godly.
But just because we portray ourselves in these ways... does that really mean that we truly have these characteristics?
You may feel like this girl after you attend a Christian conference, purchase a new Beth Moore book, drive to work with your Hillsong CD playing, get up extra early to do your devotions; or perhaps, when you post a photo of a sunset on Instagram and caption it with something about God's beauty amazing you.
Check, check...
But do you feel like this specific woman after you do wrong? When you're convicted of your sin? Face it: This image is a human standard of perfection that we can never fully meet, not a Christian ideal. The reality is that we are not this girl because "she" portrays herself in a sinless manner, and being sinless is impossible for man. Therefore, her portrayal is a lie. Do we really want to live a lie?
It's not wrong to work hard to present ourselves in the best ways that we can. It's not wrong to care about what we wear, work out six days a week, and to never leave the house without make-up on... But is image our priority?
It's not wrong to work hard for good grades or a job promotion or to always give our best at what we do. But is success our priority?
What is your priority? Where does your joy come from? Is it from what you do and the reputation that comes with it? Is it from who you're with and the way you're built up from others? OR does your joy come from what God does in your life?
I am learning that we should feel MOST complete as Christian women when we are in the midst of God's grace. Not when we are doing things "right", but when GOD is reminding us of His mercy and His ability even through our messy days.
We won't become women of God if we are trying to be women of God. We become women of God by following Christ and allowing Him to shape our hearts and form our character.
"I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing."
Jeremiah 10:23-24
It's not important that we have everything together or even that we feel like we have everything together. What really matters is that we are keeping our eyes on the One who saves us. When we focus on Him, we are TRULY beautiful.
My friend Kat and I were having a talk last summer and she said something like this:
"We really need more ragamuffin Christians."
She's right.
What she doesn't mean is that we need Christians living in sin and having zero integrity. She means that we need Christians who don't make perfection their goal or prance about like they haven't sinned in a while.
I think that when we make our personal image our biggest priority, we fool ourselves and strain ourselves spiritually.
But when we let God change us and begin work in us, we develop an honorable personal image created by Him. Not sloppily faked by us.
What does it mean to have good character and a strong personal representation of self? Let's look to scripture for the answer...
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching" 1 Timothy 4:12-13
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:31
"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love" 2 Peter 1:5-7
