All the single ladies!

My sweet and wonderful ladies of Mosaic Student Ministry! As I sit here thinking…processing…and thinking some more, I thought that I would share with you a few of the pieces on my heart. So men, we love ya but this blog is just for my girls!
:)

Ladies, do we not wake up each morning, look in the mirror and have a desire to be beautiful to someone? To experience love? To be seen as “very precious” to our King? Let’s dive into God’s word! 1 Peter 3:1-6…

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”

As I begin to embark on a new adventure in life (marriage), I have continually thought of what it means to be a woman of the Lord and how we as women are wired to honor God and serve Him with our lives. This specific section of Scripture has become very precious to me because of these words “which in God’s sight is very precious.”
Now, obviously Paul is talking very specifically to “wives and husbands” in this section; however, DO NOT ride this passage off as one to look at when you start thinking about marriage or being a wife. Remember that there is great truth for all women of the Lord as we focus on what womanhood looks like according to God’s word. Paul directs all Christian females to put on something NOT corruptible, something that beautifies the soul and gives honor to His Spirit. Growing up, my FAVORITE game was “Pretty, Pretty Princess!” I loved all the jewelry that I could get and dress up in! But oh, to win the game and get to wear the beautiful crown filled with precious jewels my joy was uncontainable! I would prance around and be filled with excitement showing everyone my beautiful jewels and asking them to all bow down to “Princess Carrie” ☺ (did I mention that I probably took this a little to seriously as a child?). And so when Paul tells Christian women to NOT allow their beauty to be consumed by the outward appearance, I find this interesting! Now, Paul is NOT saying “don’t take care of yourself” or “never look cute ” or “don’t shower…in fact just throw mud on yourself and put a bag over your head!” NO! HEAR ME SAY…Paul is NOT saying those things. However, he IS saying do NOT be consumed in these things. He is commanding us- as ladies- to cultivate an inner beauty of a “gentle and quiet sprit”! If you are anything like me, you may say to yourself “Well GREAT God! Now I’m suppose to keep my big mouth shut and never say anything! I will need a complete personality makeover now!” But again…I DON’T think this is what it is about. This spirit is to be one of consistency with the Lord. One full of peace in knowing that the King of Kings is in complete control and we are to trust in Him with our lives and follow Him with every opportunity that He gives us! This is a spirit of respect, honor, love, submission, and trust. It looks more like a peaceful stream of water than the raging waves of the ocean.
So HOW do we cultivate this beauty? What does this look like? Well….as I have prayed through this verse here are a few things that God has brought to my attention that maybe you can chew on over a nice cup of Tazo© Calm Tea at Starbucks.

1. Proverbs 31:30- “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. We MUST know the Lord! I think this is what it means to “fear” the Lord. We must know His heart, know His word, and ultimately we must KNOW Him! Do you know the Lord in a deep, intimate, love-relationship way?
2. Ex 34:29- “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” SPEND TIME WITH GOD! The most beautiful woman is one who cherishes and desires to spend time with her Maker! It was obvious to others that Moses had been with the Lord. Is it obvious to the people you live with or your classmates that you spend time with God? Is your face radiant?
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18-“We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory…” When people see you, who do they see? They should see Jesus Christ. Do they? How is God molding you to look more and more like Him? And how do you respond to His molding?

Ladies, how are you cultivating beauty? How are you leaning hard on the Lord? I pray that today your cultivate an imperishable beauty that beautifies your soul. You are precious to many and loved by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! May your hearts be at rest in Him and may your desire be for His attention alone!


~Princess Carrie ☺:)