THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 by Linda Wood Rondeau

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

Linda Wood Rondeau

Photo by Reno Laithienne on Unsplash

AN EXCERPT FROM

LESSONS ALONG THE WAY

COMING SOON

Reading: Genesis 1:1–31

I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14 NASB

Body image is a growing fanaticism in our cultural climate … costing billions of dollars to address our human fears of imperfection. Wearable fitness gadgets line superstore shelves … devices that whistle, vibrate, and beep are reminders to get up and move. New weight loss programs pop up with great frequency. Americans pay large sums of money to curl straight hair and straighten curly hair. We lavish our bodies with manicures and pedicures while we cram our feet into five-inch heels. Our closets are stuffed, and our dresser drawers overflow.

Few folks are happy when they gaze at their naked reflections. We want to impress by covering up our true selves or reinventing what we find less desirable about our bodies. We seek to redefine ourselves … everything from million-dollar smiles to sex changes.

Of all creation, humankind is unique in its obsession with self-image:

A sloth does not pout because he is not a lion.

A fly does not refuse to buzz his day away because he is not a spider.

A guppy does not shake a fist at his creator because he is not a shark.

A flamingo is not afraid to nap under his own wing.

A crocodile is content as he suns in his leathery skin.

A cow does not refuse to give her milk because the cow in the next stall won a blue ribbon, and she did not.

Photo by Kelly-Ann Tan on Unsplash

Some folks are so unhappy with how they think they appear to others they become spiritually stagnant. They complain to the Lord, “Why did you make me this way?” Some worry they will be unable to serve God unless he changes how they appear to others.

Joni Eareckson Tada became paralyzed in her youth and has spent the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She has accomplished more with a profound disability than most achieve with no handicaps. Though she has authored many books and is a well-known international speaker as well as a champion for the disabled, she still has times of profound doubt … times when she struggles with self-esteem related to her physical limitations.

In Zondervan’s Seniors’ Devotional Bible, Joni writes about her struggle with disability. She despised her body until she realized Satan hates her flesh and blood. Her complaints gave credence to the devil’s lies.

Our bodies, even underneath wrinkles or fat and despite the ravages of illness or old age, are made in the image of God. Our hearts, minds, hands, and feet are stamped with the Creator’s imprint.

Little wonder the devil wants us to be ashamed of our bodies.

We give Satan homage when we bad-mouth ourselves, providing him with a doorway to limit our spiritual effectiveness. God has created us for a singular purpose, and he has shaped us to fulfill that purpose in all aspects: intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially. As we surrender our self-consciousness, he allows his purpose to become a reality within and through us.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, when I feel ashamed of the way I am made, let me remember you have fashioned me for a purpose. Do not let Satan taunt me and cause me to forget I am beautiful to you.

Share This Blog: