Category: Life

Who is the keeper of your mind?

Let’s look at the mind. What exactly is the mind? Where is the mind situated? Is it in your brain or part of your heart and soul? What makes the mind function? These are some of the questions we will answer.

The brain is intriguing in its functions that are complex and detailed. But what makes the mind function? In her book ‘Who Switched off my Brain’ Dr. Caroline Leaf states, “the five senses are your contact between the external world around you and your internal world, activating the mind.”

According to Dr. Gary Collins in his book, ‘The Magnificent Mind’ “The mind does not exist in a tangible form. Instead, the mind is a word that we use to refer to human thinking, knowing and feeling.” So, the mind does not have a form but consists of a mixture of functions.

The soul comprises of the mind, will and emotions therefore, thoughts, emotions together with our choice is all connected with the mind. Your will is your choice. Your feelings are directly connected to your senses and thoughts.

You have been designed with the ability to select your thoughts; you have the capacity to accept or reject a thought. That sentence is a powerful tool to grab a hold of. Because we can stop worry, stress, or anxiety thoughts on the inception of formation.

At the beginning of a toxic negative thought, you have the power to refuse it and when you do substitute it with a healthy, positive thought that stimulates good emotions of peace and calm.

When our minds our given negative thinking or the what ifs or the how comes etc. it causes even greater stress, anxiety and fear. But your mind is simply that, it’s yours you remain the keeper of the door you permit through the senses what you experience daily.

When something cruel, bad or painful happens it is not possible for us to always stop it from happening, but we can select how we let it influence us for the rest of our life.

The bible tells us we can tear down thoughts and imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Amp “[In as much as we] refute arguments, theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One.)”

Contrary ideas that are not the character of Christ, we negate anything that is negative, hurtful, fearful, worrisome or aggravating they’re not thoughts that produce life, health and peace.

You alone are the guardian of your thoughts, if your being influenced then you will have to refute the lies. I look on it this way tell the truth to yourself if it doesn’t fall into line with God’s word then let it go, refuse the ideas and then replace them with the word of God.

The bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 NKJV “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thigs are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.”  This means to choose to think about these things, for it produces peace. For example, today I got a shot in my right ankle I chose to consider good thoughts and think about Jesus’ which helps me at the same time get a painful shot. I refuse to be thinking about how much it hurts or complain that will make it worse. That doesn’t imply it doesn’t hurt but shifting my thoughts to this shot would keep me walking provides me with help.

You are the guardian of your mind.

Faithfulness how important is it?

What is faithfulness and how important is it to you? Whether its on the job or a relationship of any kind faithfulness is an essential character trait.

The dictionary defines “faithful 1) steadfast in affection or allegiance: loyal 2) firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty: conscientious” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

What is the difference between faithfulness and faithful? “Faithfulness is the state of being and faithful is allegiance, loyalty, fidelity?” Wikidiff.com

What does faithfulness mean to you? To mean it means that you honor your word still when it hurts, you do what you are saying and say whatever you mean. In marriage it is particularly important to honoring your vow of fidelity.

However, when it goes to our everyday life is faithfulness important still to ourselves? I believe it is. If I make a commitment to doing something and I change my mind because of a whim then I’m not being faithful to myself.

For example, as I was completing up my studies, I had several times I had to speak the truth to myself that I will be able to do it and I will finish it. All your reading and writing can on occasion become overwhelming, but I kept saying, I can do it.

Maybe as you’re reading this your facing something that you need to finish and that your feeling like quitting. Hold on because many of us face a certain point in life where we must decide ‘I’m not going to give up’ I’m finishing whatever I started.  This statement will produce faithfulness.

Most successful individuals have faced a disappointment and rather than giving up they attempted again and succeeded so can you. This mindset produces faithfulness.

God never let’s go of us He remains faithful even when we are not the bible states. That is merely one of his character traits which makes me feel secure in Him because we’re not perfect and he understands that. When you give up a dream or plan it will be able to make you feel beaten but when we go to God with our desires and plans he maintains a way of helping us drive past the pain, strength kicks in and we start to see the deep blueprint He has meant for us come into fruition.

Relationships require security and it’s constructed by faithfulness. Allow God to develop within your core faithfulness and watch it expand in all aspects of your life.

Resolving Your Own Anger…

What is anger? Why do we get angry? And how do we defuse our anger? These questions are important to understand in resolving anger.

First, anger is a feeling that signals that there is something wrong and fuels a reply. Anger is like a warning flag to let you know something is going on inside of you. It’s a secondary emotion because there is always something underneath anger.

What is underneath the anger pain/hurt, afraid/fear or frustration/frustrated. For example, when we’re hurt by a person our body replies with anger first. Knowing everything that is underneath the anger will help you to defuse and resolve the problem.

Hence the bible tells us to be ‘angry but sin not.’ Anger is not the sin but what you are doing with anger can lead to sin. How do you be angry and sin not?

The first thing is realizing what is beneath your anger is fueling it. How do you realize it asking yourself (self-talk) what is going on inside of you? When you answer it, you’ll be able to defuse the anger by resolving the problem.

The second step to resolving the anger is addressing the issue. Approach the problem with the person or situation. Unresolved issues tend to promote anger. It is better to confront in love then stew, brew and boil.

Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” This means address the problem right away the longer anger is undealt with the larger the problem will be.

The word anger means “a strong feeling of being upset or annoyed because of something wrong or bad. The feeling that makes someone want to hurt other people, to shout etc.; the feeling of being angry, anger”

Use your words to communicate what’s beneath your anger. Then release the individual who hurt or frustrated you by forgiving them.

If fear is beneath the anger start speaking the truth to yourself. Speaking truths improves our own internal process to settle down and the reality then is easier to view, hear and grasp. For example, your spouse bought something very expensive and you didn’t know about, and your finances are tight this would cause anger to trigger because fear would begin to make you think and feel your going have to do with out or you won’t have enough… Fear makes us think of future problems before it even happens so in reality it may not even happen.

If frustration is below your anger deal with the issue through placing boundaries. Dealing with a situation or person through setting boundaries so that you’re no longer taken advantage of.

Through a step-by-step method you can resolve your anger. Ask questions, address the issue of the anger and answer the problem through truths, problem solving or boundaries

Frustrations may sometimes be from unclear boundaries. Make sure that your boundaries are intact. People can’t runover your boundaries unless you let them. If they storm over them set tougher boundaries. Sometimes we step around our own boundaries and it causes frustration if that is the case forgive yourself.

To resolve anger ask yourself questions, address what is going on beneath the anger and respond to it with truth, set clear and concise boundaries where you start and stop.

Give yourself grace because anger is not a sin. Learning how to resolve anger helps to defuse it.

Address problems instead of complaining.

What is complaining? What’s the difference between complaining and dealing with problems?

We will be looking at how complaining influences our mental, physical and spiritual body. The word complaining means “expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.”

Addressing issues is by no means complaining because its objective is for change and the advancement of the person or situation. Not addressing issues is leading to complaining which does not bring about any change.

When an individual runs from conflict they are not dealing with issues. “Conflict is a door to intimacy.” This is a quotation from Dr. Gary Smalley. What this is representing to me is that when you are ready to deal with issues you will develop in intimacy in your relationships and within yourself. Running away or shutting down the complaint that is addressed for solution stunts our growth.

Complaining will result in more complaining until it becomes a way of life.  Your brain will build the habit of expressing annoyances and your body will eventually weaken its defenses. Our immune system requires healthy things to build it up.

When we address a problem, we ought to do it to seek solutions for a problem. Address a problem by first validating the individual, then speak of the problem then validate again. That’s how you solve problems one problem at a time.

Do not overload the person with other issues when you’re dealing with a problem. Avoid using attack words such you never, you always these phrases just put the person on defense. Be teachable and willing to admit when wrong.

Complaining can be communicated with people or with yourself. Humans have a conversation with themselves, when complaining becomes your go to way to express yourself it will cause harm to your brain, body and spirit. It can become routine because the brain will get use to the negativity and lean towards it. We must be mindful and alert to our self-talk.

Dr. T. Bradberry Ph.D. wrote an article called ‘How complaining rewires your brain for negativity.” He stated, “research from Stanford University has shown that complaining shrinks the hippocampus-area of the brain that’s critical to problem solving and intelligent thought. Damage to the hippocampus is scary, especially when you consider that it’s one of the primary brain areas destroyed by Alzheimer’s.”

He also stated in the article “when you complain your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol shifts you into fight or flight mode, directing oxygen, blood and energy away from everything but the systems that are essential to immediate survival.” “One effect of cortisol, for example, is to raise your blood pressure, and blood sugar so that you’ll be prepared to either escape or defend yourself. All the extra cortisol released by frequent complaining impairs your immune system and makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It even makes the brain vulnerable to strokes.”

The bible tells us there is life and death in the power of the tongue. Apparently, science has proven it true. Use your tongue to speak life to yourself, circumstances and family.  

Complaining can adversely affect us spiritually too. Tuesday, I liked a post which was stating a person’s perspective immediately I felt the Lords disapproval. In prayer I asked the Lord about it and He spoke to me Ephesians 4:3 “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” By my press button I was complaining because I agreed with a post even though I knew to refrain from it I broke the bond of peace for us in the unity of the spirit. I’m sharing my error so it can help someone else. I knew not to like it, but I did it anyways. So, I repented asked God to forgive me and He did. It is so important to follow the leading of the Spirit.

So how can you change if your complaining. First repent and ask God to forgive you. Start speaking life through gratitude. Be thankful and to express it with your words and actions. The minute you begin to think complaints or negativity say no to it and change your thoughts to truths by speaking the word of God to the problem.

Addressing an issue isn’t complaining its part of problem solving.  

Kingdom living…

What is kingdom living? Why would the word of God tell us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness? I wrote about worry in my last article in the blog and would like to continue with the rest of the passage in Matthew chapter six.

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ 32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34)Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

In verse 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” the meaning of seek is pursue, go after it pursue with all your heart the kingdom of God and His is capitalized meaning a person Jesus his righteousness is given to us when we are born again. We do not stand before God in our own righteousness. It’s Jesus’ righteousness therefore seek after the kingdom of God, because of Jesus’ righteousness you have access to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is residing in you, walking with you, seek this because all those other things are going to be taken care of for you. Kingdom living understands God’s providing for all your needs.

In English seek means, “attempt to find, attempt or desire to obtain or achieve, ask for something from someone.” To me seeking the kingdom of God is being kingdom minded. It’s focusing upon and seeking God by way of pursuing him regularly through Jesus and His word.

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 17:21’…nor will they say, ‘See here’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.”  These scriptures verify that the kingdom of God is in us through Jesus and by way of Holy Spirit. So how do we walk in it? That is the question…

Walking in Jesus righteousness, walking in Jesus peace and walking in Jesus joy. Are all three by the power of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God lives in you through Jesus in your spirit. You can walk in the kingdom of God by being led in the spirit. That’s the reason you can walk the way Jesus walked. Following the leading of the Spirit is how you walk in kingdom living. Being kingdom minded is also how you walk in the kingdom of God.

Jesus told the disciples beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees was traditions of men, wrong beliefs about God’s character and ways. Even though they believed in the written and oral word of God. There was no mercy, no love which is opposite of the kingdom of God.

We also should beware of our own traditions, opinions, attitudes because they obstruct the kingdom of God in us. We can get so self-righteous that we forget our righteousness isn’t ours it’s Jesus’s that’s when it is time to repent.

Walking in the kingdom of God is a pursuit of God daily not legalistically but a daily depending upon him for your needs. Spend time with Jesus in your alone moment in time of prayer, get alone together with Him by calling on Him and He will meet with you. Opening the bible to be read with expectation from God that he will talk to you through his word.

Worry pulls on our mind and heart that is the reason why Jesus said, “your heavenly Father knows what you need but seek first the kingdom of God.”

Jesus walked and was living in the kingdom of God through his spirit. He was in harmony to the Holy Spirits leading in the same way as you can be. He trusted God along with his needs as well as pursued the Fathers will.

Be on guard do not get caught up in the chaos of 2020. Whether you wear or else don’t wear a mask, political stuff, elections etc. “Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove” the bible says. We can be trusting God through this moment in time we all are living in. We can choose to walk in kingdom mindedness.

As I am writing this article, I heard God say, “Put me first-and watch what I will do.” If that is a word for you receive it because God cares for all your needs. God has it and he is faithful to provide it.  God cares and supports all his children.

Once you have confessed your sins and received Christ Jesus into your heart and made him Lord of your life you will become born again. You have the kingdom of God inside you and you can live in the kingdom of God daily.  

Worrying…

What does it mean to worry? Are there benefits or disadvantages to worrying? Are you addicted to worrying? How do you stop yourself from worrying?

Sometimes we may be worrying and not even realize that’s what we’re doing till it comes to our attention. So, let’s discover the answers to these questions.

Worry means “giving way to anxiety or unease, allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles” google

“Worrying causing anxiety about actual or potential problems, alarming.” Dictionary

I would say from those definitions worrying is not advantageous but can be harmful in the long run. I asked whether you are addicted to worrying because it’s so damaging to our physical and psychological makeup. When we are worrying, we put ourselves into stress mode. Worrying is over thinking a situation to the point where it becomes your reality before it even happens. This activates the fight or flight responses that our bodies experience during stress.

To me worrying can become addicting since it’s an unhealthy way to deal with uncertainties. It’s okay to take the time an think a problem through but worrying takes a dilemma an thinks it over and over again to a point that the outcome becomes a reality in the mind when in fact you are unsure of the outcome.

I was reading from the bible Matthew 6:25-34 about worry and it occurred to me worry is robbing your peace and steals your joy. I sensed this acronym for Worry during my prayer time which I think is a great eye-opening way of looking at worrying.

W=waste of time and energy

O=over assumptions and outlandish outcomes which are uncertain

R=restlessness equals no strength.

R=reasonings equals fears for future and from past events that may or may not have happened.

Y=yesterdays and tomorrow’s mean your yesterdays are affecting your tomorrows without evidence for tomorrow.

These are Jesus’ words found in, Matthew 6:25-30 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26)Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”     

We can choose our thoughts. Worry is thoughts that stimulate stress hormones and make you want to go into fight or flight mode based on assumptions built through fears for your future or past events.

It’s time to nip worry in its inception how do we do it by speaking truth to yourself. You do not know for certain the future and it’s ok. God will take you through whatever your facing. Telling yourself a scripture on God taking good care of you is faith in action. Speaking this to yourself is not only faith building but it will create peace in your heart. It’s important to read and talk out loud a scripture so that it goes deep into your heart then as soon as the worry tries to come you can defeat it immediately.

When worrying turns into your go to way to handle life’s challenges it will take rejecting worry. Worrying mediates on fears instead of God’s word. Ask God to forgive you for worrying and begin to speak life into your circumstances by speaking a scripture into your circumstances.

This might take a little time so give yourself grace to understand a new way to release your worries. You can pray, write or talk to God about the situations and then release yourself from knowing the answers to all of life’s problems. You will be able to enjoy freedom from worrying when you stop trying to figure out the unanswered questions. Begin trusting God with all of life’s troubles and rest in His love for you.

https://insightsbydrannette.com/fearful-or-fearless/https://insightsbydrannette.com/peace-in-the-storm/

Shame…

What is shame? What are the three different kinds of shame? Why is it so important to be free of shame? These are some of the questions we will be looking at for answers.

Shame is a bad feeling about your personhood and the feeling of being flawed.  Shame based and toxic shame comes from three different types of shame.  Sandra D. Wilson stated in her book ‘Released from Shame.’  ‘There are three types of shame biological, biblical and binding.’ Shame is instilled by one or all these three types.

Let’s look at her three types of shame. The first is ‘biological shame.’ ‘Biological shame has the physical component.’ For instances I had been born with multi congenital abnormalities one being a bone illness that affected my growth plates. That’s what caused the major joints in my body in order not to form properly. I couldn’t walk good or run so as a kid I had severe pain in my legs, but the doctors didn’t know back then what disease I had until I was much older.  I couldn’t participate in sports or gym either. It caused me to make me feel ashamed of my body because I turned out to be different. This is just one example of biological shame. God healed me from biological shame but will talk about that later.

You can feel biological shame from being short or tall, skinny or heavy. No matter what the circumstance is in our biological makeup which is different from other’s may cause shame especially if the individual is teased, bullied or doesn’t like to be different.

Getting bullied represents a biological and psychological shaming. I believe this is the reason why it’s so distressing and hard for the person being bullied they start to believe their defected as well as to it causes serious emotional and mental pain. If the harassment is also physical abuse it is at the same time damaging. This could cause psychological trauma for a child who will need healing.

The second type of shame in this book is ‘Biblical Shame.’ This has the spiritual component to the shaming. This occurs in religions and religious families that must be perfect and uphold a requirement higher than you can reach or obtain.

There’s a difference between a relationship between Jesus and being a spiritual person who performs the rules in order to feel good about themselves. God does not love you because you are performing well, he loves you for he is love.

There are groups, cults and religions that put shame on people to maintain them bound to a standard of acceptance for the groups, cults or religions traditions. There’s a difference between tradition and the Word of God.  When we present traditions as criteria as if they are the Word of God it can generate shame in people who are trying to keep the traditions. Because they feel they have failed if they can’t maintain them when it’s a man-made tradition.

The third type of shame in the book is ‘binding shame.’  ‘Binding shame has a psychological component.’ The term bound by the shame comes from childhood encounters in families that are dysfunctional.  Children do not accurately interpret their parent’s actions because they internalize every action or word by the parent as their own fault.

When a parent is dysfunctional themselves, they will place their shame onto their children by words, actions, body language and tones. For example, if your dubbed stupid as a child eventually you believe it.  This psychologically makes you think that you are unable to learn and that there’s something wrong with you and with who you are.

All three of these types of shame can produce a shame-based identity where you feel your identity is flawed, bad or worthless. When you have a shame-based identity you have a difficult time separating your opinions from who you are.

Getting liberated from shame is essential to living a non-dysfunctional life. Our identity remains rooted to the essence of our being.  If your identity remains rooted in a shame that you dislike yourself, you would not love yourself in a healthy way and your thoughts will strengthen the negatives about yourself it’s a sad place to live. If you can’t accept yourself, you are feeling and think others can’t accept you either.

The good news is that you can get free from shame. I know from my own experience God healed myself from the shame I felt regarding my disability. He freed me years back from feeling flawed.

How did I get free? I had to first confront the shame, hurt and pain. Through God I got the inner healing for all the pain of being unable to accomplish what I wanted to do and the feelings of being less. 

I had to change my thinking about the disability. It’s all right that I’m not able to run or walk far. It’s not a flaw it’s a disability. I had to embrace my physical restrictions and health issues by seeing them all through God’s eyes. There’s a scripture that God used to help me look at myself the way That He sees me beautiful and loved.

Song of Solomon 4:7 amp “[He exclaimed] O my love, how beautiful you are! There is no flaw in you!”

My prayer: Dear Heavenly Father as they give you the pain and shame, I pray you are replacing it with your unconditional love for them. That by the sacrifice of Jesus each pain, sorrow and shame be gone in Jesus name.

https://insightsbydrannette.com/beauty-for-ashes/https://insightsbydrannette.com/the-root-of-shame/

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Meekness isn’t Weakness…

What is meekness and then why would you desire that character trait?

“Meekness definition is the quality of state of being meek: a mild, moderate, humble or submissive quality.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior. It has been defined several ways: righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering, long suffering willing to follow gospel teaching, an attribute of a true disciple.” Wikipedia

Somebody who is meek does not necessarily have to be a disciple of Christ although one who is a follower must be willing to let God cultivate the character of meekness into their lives.

People can sense peaceful, calm and meekness inside someone. Meekness does not constitute a weakness it is strength in control. Have you ever talked to a person and you are able to sense and view their stressed?

We can be the ear or shoulder so to say for them to be shared with.  When we are meek, we do not absorb other people’s issues but as one who because of meekness, sensibleness and calmness can be a calming voice of reason.

You may be thinking exactly how we can walk in the meekness when chaos is all over.  We walk and mature in meekness in the same way as Jesus did. He kept his sight and thinking about the Father’s will for his life. He didn’t allow people to distract his purpose. Remember meekness is strength controlled. A meek person isn’t a weak person.

When the circumstances are in turmoil, we can choose to ask God for help. Speak to the Holy Spirit and ask what he desires you to say or do.  Just because you might know something, doesn’t mean the individual is ready to hear you.

When someone is living in meekness, peace and calmness they remain in focus and control their responses.  Lots of times when there are people in turmoil, they’re in a reactive stance.  Sometimes this is because of having been triggered. This is when we must step back when it occurs to see or think have, I reacted or responded.

Responses have been made by choice. Reactions are usually quick and explosive. They are derived from unresolved hurts, pain, traumas or abuses.  When we do not address the pain from earlier experiences, and we repress them the thing will surface when triggered.

If you wish to be free you must face the inward things that you suppressed.

Meekness is not weakness because meekness is a power to face problems that arise in our lives. Meekness is being developed through trials and living experiences.  We all have the option in situations you will select your responses or react. 

Allow God to create meekness by your life experiences in place of repressing your hurts allow him to heal them. If you wish to move past reactions to deciding your responses, then reach out to somebody or contact me to go through inner healing.  

I know God is for me and everything I face or walk through He goes along with me. Do I like going through difficult things no I don’t think anybody does? But as we walk through stuff our character becomes tested and refined. Meekness is strength in control of our responses.

https://insightsbydrannette.com/contact-me/https://insightsbydrannette.com/should-i-forgive/https://insightsbydrannette.com/the-rejection-connection/

Stop and take a look…

Looking at this photo shows the bloom is concealed from view.  While walking by way of our hydrangea bushes it seemed as though the plant did not have any flowers.  But upon a little slower look you will be able to see the hidden splendor of its blooms.

It got me thinking about how our lives could fly by without notice if we allow it but once we slow down and look all around on the earth’s beauty in flowers, plants and animals you can view creations beauty.  This flower is hidden in the leaves they are so large that had I not looked and stopped to see I would have missed a beautiful sight.

Sometimes we all must slow down and take a nice glance around and see a beauty that’s all around us. I encourage you today to stop for a minute and deliberately look for the beauty around you.

Give yourself permission to take a break and enjoy God’s creation. Take a deep breath and delight in your moments.

Hidden Beauty

There’s such a thing? I believe yes that exists because often beauty is being used as a physical reference on the look. But true beauty becomes much deeper than the look. 

As a young girl my mom would say, “true beauty is on the inside.” Which when I was young, I didn’t really like that thought. I’ve heard it also in this manner, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  When your young you believe that your looks or appearance is the most important thing.

As the adult I learned my appearance remains only skin deep, but my true beauty lies in Lord and my character reveals that beauty.

How you walk along with the hurting and afflicted reveals your beauty. Or how you are treating people without partiality also shows your character.  Good Character is demonstrated in our actions not merely words. Mom would also like to say, “actions speak louder than words.” Truth is that she was right.

My previous post was on consistency and this goes together with that topic.  Our character the way we are known is the only thing that you take with you after you die. Your life is summed up by good or bad character, how did you take care of those around you? What are they going to say when your gone?

We don’t live our life to please others, but we do need to be living our lives to please God. When I think just about the inner beauty God is developing in me, I can look at the situations around me that I must go through with fresh eyes. Eyes that will be open to change, eyes that are looking for what He is doing and not necessarily what I think.

Beauty is fleeting the bible tells us why since we all change get older and outward beauty turns out to be skin deep. But the purest beauty is a genuine reflection of an inward beauty of our existence.

Like this hydrangea in the image is hidden beneath the larger leaves it’s beautiful and you do not see it right away but then if you slow down and then take a good look you discover the hidden beauty of this one flower. God is developing hidden beauty in all his children.

All of God’s children are currently being developed and He remains refining each one of us men and women to create us into Christ likeness.  A good man and a lovely woman are the same, both are known for their outstanding character.

Don’t let your external appearance define who you really are. It’s what is going on the inside that matters allow God to build good character and Christlikeness with inside you these are the things that withstand time.

Proverbs 31:30 “charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”