January 30
Beauty secret
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalms 149:4 (NKJV)
Fewer things are as sought after in our society as beauty. We want to be beautiful, and we want to be with those who are beautiful. People willingly empty their bank accounts, sacrifice their responsibilities, and dive headlong into compromise for beauty. We all want it, but how well do we understand it?
Webster defines beauty as "the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction." But where do true pleasure and satisfaction come from? They can only come from God, who is the ultimate source of all that truly pleases and satisfies. And in the Psalm above, it tells us that the Lord will beautify the humble with salvation. In other words, God bestows true beauty on those who take refuge in Him.
From time to time, we cross paths with someone who is particularly close to the Lord. Their roots go deep into the Word and into the practice of prayer. In all that they do and say, there's a strong sense of God's pleasure and satisfaction (an inner beauty) that flows through them and touches the people around them.
What is that? That's the beauty of the Lord, which He bestows on those who've humbled themselves under His hand. They don't advertise or brag about their beauty, they simply allow it to radiate from the inside out. This is true beauty, the beauty of God, and it's much more beautiful than anything our culture can come up with.
Instead of seeking beauty in outward, external things, we need to prioritize the beauty that comes from the Lord, which is rooted in the inner work of His Spirit.
Beautiful One, we recognize that true beauty can only come from You. Make us beautiful with Your salvation as we humble ourselves before You.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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