(by pastor Jean)

“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us” (Ps 90:17; MEV). Some versions use the word “favour” or “kindness” instead of “beauty” but either way the result is the same. We can spend hours in front of the mirror trying to make ourselves look beautiful but there is nothing to compare with the beauty that radiates from the person who is full of God! The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 underscores this, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov 31:30; NKJV). In the New Testament, Peter says that physical beauty will fade away (1 Peter 1:24) and we are not to be overly focused on outward beauty, such as hairstyle, jewelry and clothing (1 Peter 3:3) but, “clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to God” (1 Peter 3:4; NLT). The question is how do we become beautiful from the inside out? The answer is simple – by spending time with God and His word. If we fill ourselves so full of Him it can’t help but show on the outside in the form of love, kindness, good works and in fact all the fruit of the Spirit will develop in our hearts and make us look beautiful. “And so, we are transformed much like the Messiah, our lives gradually become brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him” (2 Cor 3:18; MSG).