Do you remember being a teenager? For some of us, those were years of high drama, trying to fit in, and being obsessed with our appearance. I know my focus was not where it should have been. Cute clothes, the right hairstyle, and a clear complexion were on the top of my list in order to attract the attention of that special someone. Maybe you can relate.

I wish I would have known the definition of true beauty. This summer I’ve been teaching through a Bible study for teen girls, Beauty by the Book, by Laurie Cole, on this very topic. It will always be a hot subject, and I believe the emphasis on physical beauty has morphed into a dangerous monster in today’s culture.

It’s really no surprise, is it? Lucifer was a beautiful angel in heaven before his pride got the best of him. The prophet Ezekiel describes what happened:

Pride was Lucifer’s downfall. The book of Isaiah gives us a glimpse into his thoughts:

Did you catch how Lucifer stressed all the things he would do? In his arrogance, he was determined to take God’s place. God cast him out of heaven for his rebellion.

Ever since then, Satan has been tempting us to be prideful and put a lot of emphasis on our physical appearance. No doubt about it, physical beauty draws attention. The reality? It can lead to pride and be spiritually devastating.

God gave each of us the features we have. The truth is beauty is God-given. The problem comes when we focus solely on the outside, and give no thought to what’s on the inside.

Yes, we should give some thought to our appearance and try to look nice. But what’s most important is yielding to our Heavenly Father to develop the fruit of the Spirit on the inside. Take a look at these familiar words from Proverbs:

I can only nod my head in agreement. Every day I look in the mirror, I can see the truth shared in this passage.

But there is a beauty that won’t fade no matter how many years go by: inner beauty. As we put into practice the things we see in God’s Word – loving Him, putting Him first, putting others ahead of myself, speaking words that encourage, being a peacemaker – these inner qualities make us more beautiful with every passing day. And that’s a beauty tip worth sharing.