“Mirror, mirror on the wall; who’s the fairest of them all?” The queen nodded and smiled brightly at her reflection when the mirror confirmed that it was still her beauty that outshone everyone else’s.
She fixed an unruly lock of her glossy black hair and blew herself a kiss. She would ask someone to draw her a bath later. She deserved a long soak in scented oil, followed by a relaxing massage. A good book, burning candles, and her favorite herbal tea would complete the pampering.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? When was the last time you looked in the mirror and admired what you saw? ADMIRED? When did you last do something, you enjoyed just because you deserved it?
When we read Romans 13:9 (“…These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself…), we focus on the loving others part, which clearly we were meant to do, but let’s not skip over the phrase that says we are to love ourselves. This doesn’t mean we are to be vain or act selfishly, but God wants us to acknowledge that He created us and made us in His own image. Our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. I believe He wants us to clean our house like we would when we are expecting special guests.
One of the definitions of pride in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary reads “a reasonable or justifiable self-respect.” What is more justifiable than knowing we are God’s children? That our bodies reflect His beauty and His glory?
When we love something and are proud to own it, we take good care of it. Many young people spend hours washing and waxing their first car, paying it loving attention. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul exhorts us to do the same with our bodies:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
We need self-discipline to keep our bodies in the best shape and fit for God’s indwelling. Rest, exercise, healthy eating, cleanliness, moderation, and even grooming are all factors to consider when we love our bodies and show God that we have justifiable self-respect. Some of those are harder than others to fit into our busy schedules, but we prioritize things that we value, so making time for these things is love in action.
I challenge you to choose one of the areas mentioned above that proves the most difficult for you and focus on changing it this week.
Pray with Me:
Dear Father, forgive me for the times I’ve criticized my body or been discontent with what You gave me. Help me to make it a beautiful home in which Your Spirit will dwell. I ask for Your help in the areas that I find most difficult to change. Amen.
The next time you pass a mirror, stop and smile at your reflection. Why not blow yourself a kiss? Thank God for your beautiful body.
Your Turn: As you reflect on this blog, which of the above areas will you focus on changing this week? Let us know in the comments box below. Thank you!
Valda Goudie is a teacher and a writer. Visit her site at valsstage.com and download a free e-book called “Tickle Me with a Crowbar!” containing 30 days of jokes and short devotions!
