I'm going to be honest, I often struggle with my appearance. It is a great source of insecurity for me. I will compare myself to other women and secretly wish I had their body, hair, clothes, etc. I have expressed this before to women I know and they tell me I'm crazy. I am 5'3" and weigh 110 pounds. I wear a size 2. I often hear that I don't look like I am 40. I don't tell you these things to brag. I want women (and men) to understand that security isn't in our size, it's in our hearts.
The other day my husband and I had a discussion about a woman we know who desperately tries to attract the attention of men. She dresses very provacatively and flirts with her eyes. Do you know what kind of woman I am talking about? I expressed my disdain and concern for the men she is around. My husband said something that got this girl thinking. He told me that a true man isn't attracted to that type of woman. A true man is attracted to a self confident woman who loves her family and God (his wife). As he was walking out of the room he said something that shook my heart. He said it is not a real man who compares his wife to other women, it is women who compare themselves to women.
Isn't that the hard truth. I started to wonder how much time I have spent comparing myself to other women, rather than celebrating the woman God created in me. He lovingly formed my body, yet I constantly tell Him with my thoughts and behaviors that He didn't do a good job. Conviction.....
Psalm 139:13-14
13 For it was You who created
my inward parts;
You knit me together
in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You,
because I have remarkably
and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
I can say these verses over and over, but do I feel these verses? Do I really get these verses? Sadly, I will have to say I don't. My head hears them, but my heart doesn't.
Today I will pray for redemption from my critical thoughts about God's creation of me. I am determined to truly soak up these verses. I choose to be glad with the body God gave me. I am no fool, this will take great work on my part. I will pray that Jesus helps me to see who I am to Him. My part of this will be stopping hurtful thoughts as soon as they begin and replace them with truths.
If you struggle too, are you willing to stand up for the woman God created in you? Let's agree to honor God by truly loving ourselves. He created us to worship and love Him. When we are picking ourselves apart, how can we truly be loving Him? I am ready to stop my comparison game and be free to love me and, more importantly, my wonderful man Jesus.
