Finally for the first time in my life, I believe it. For the first time in my life I believe with all my heart that I AM BEAUTIFUL. I have such a precious beauty that nothing in this world could ever duplicate. My beauty comes from knowing exactly who I am and walking boldly in my identity. Brokenness, blemishes, scars, pimples, love handles and all, I am perfect. No magazine cover will tell me otherwise. No boy will cause me to doubt. No lack of approval will cause me to reconsider.
The lesson I’ve been learning over and over the last couple of days is that no dress, skirt, hat, necklace, boots, blouse can or will ever define that beauty for me. Because of that, I’ve resolved to give up shopping completely for an entire year. I already have everything that I need.
Personal style isn’t and was never about having the newest fashions. PERSONAL style is about YOU. You define what fashion is. Not the other way around. You make the outfit. The outfit NEVER makes you. A lesson I’ve always known but somehow forgot. Somewhere in between allowing myself to be consumed with materialism and believing in this idea that I didn’t have enough.
I realize now that I HAVE WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH. The God of the universe calls me DAUGHTER and BELOVED. While sitting on a mountain top in awe of the beauty of the world, I realized that the same way I am in awe of the world’s beauty the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is looking down at me with the same delight times a bajillion. i’ve been set free from the worry of trying to be… Finally, I JUST AM. “I don’t live for approval. I live FROM approval.” I’ve been approved by the King of all kings and His love for me is enough.
Ps. The message in my fortune cookie, for the very first time, was SPOT on! Go figure. That beauty was in me all along. PRAISE THE LORD for allowing me to finally see it.
Amen!! Celine, this is basically exactly what my next entry was/is going to be about... I love your heart, and I love that we get to journey this road together and share in the beauty and joy of our king as precious daughters :)
ReplyDeleteThis verse keeps coming back to me lately: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." -Zephenia 3:17. He DELIGHTS over us with singing! My challenge to you would be to read Song of Songs sometime in the next couple days, and continue to soak in the love of the King and what He says about your beauty.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Celine you are so awesome. I know that beauty is something that a lot of women in our culture today stuggle with severely. You all are trully beautiful in God's eyes. There should be no other approval you are seeking. You rock :)
ReplyDeleteI love this!! This definitely encouraged me, because i frequently find it very easy to focus on my flaws rather than my value and beauty in God's eyes. You are simply ravishing inside and out Celine, and don't ever forget it!! :)
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