“Your beauty should not come for outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

The other day I came across a photo of my daughter’s first school dance. She looked like a Princess. Part of her fun that evening was getting dressed up for the event. Like most girls, Peyton has loved playing dress-up since she was a little girl. I have many pictures of her dressed up like a bride, a princess, or a ballerina. Peyton loved playing dress-up so much that one year on her birthday I bought her a board game called “Pretty, Pretty Princess.”
Quickly, it became her favorite game. With each turn, the player had the opportunity to put on an earring, a necklace, or a bracelet according to which card was drawn. You won the game if you drew the Princess crown! I can still recall how cute it was watching her play with her daddy, and how fun it was to see him wearing the plastic jewelry. One time, he actually answered the front door wearing his Pretty, Pretty Princess jewels.
Looking back over the years, I’ve come to realize that Peyton is not alone. No matter how old we get as women, we still long to be as beautiful as a princess. That desire is a God-given desire. However, since we live in a fallen world, we often try to fill our God-given desires in unhealthy ways.
For example, the world tells us in order to be beautiful we must be a perfect size, have no defects, and a cover-girl face. Anybody measure up? I know I don't. Most of us probably don't but secretly we wish we did. How do I know? Just look at the millions of dollars spent every year on cosmetics, lotions, surgeries, and beauty aids. I can't say that I wouldn't like a lift and a tuck myself!
Turning on the TV or looking at what women are wearing today will give us evidence that we've allowed the world to shape our views on beauty. The world encourages us to seek a beauty that only lasts for a brief amount of time. God encourages us to cultivate a beauty that will never fade but only grow more beautiful with time. God's Word always has a way of bringing me back to truth. It removes the pressures of what the world says, and allows me to be nothing more than who God created me to be...beautiful in His sight.
Besides, if you’re a child of the King, then you’re already a princess. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). You and I were not only called out of our sin into the saving light of Christ, but we were made daughters of the King. As royal princesses, who cares what the world says? God’s princesses come in all shapes and sizes-and He loves them all!Dear Lord, Help me not to focus on my outward appearance more than I should. Instead, give me a greater desire to cultivate my inner beauty that grows more attractive with time, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Additional Resources:Visit Micca’s Blog, Reflections, for more encouragement.
His Princess, Love Letters from Your King, by Sheri Rose Shepherd
Do you know Jesus?
Authentic Beauty: the Shaping of a Set-Apart Young Woman, by Leslie Lundy
Application Steps:Cultivate your inner beauty by recording and memorizing verses that remind you of who you are in God’s eyes. If possible, purchase the book “His Princess, Love Letters from Your King” to discover the truth of who you are.
Reflections:How much time do you give to your outward appearance as opposed to your inner beauty?
How can you change the view that beauty is only skin deep?
In what ways can cultivating inner beauty be seen on the outside of you?

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Power Verses:

Proverbs 31:30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (NIV)
Exodus 34:29, “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord” (NIV).
2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NIV).