Sunday Inspiration-The Beautiful Woman

Last night, I was honored to get to speak to a group of women about “What does a Beautiful Woman Look Like?”

Sunday Inspiration-The Beautiful Woman

I used the passage of scripture from 1 Peter 3:3-4Do 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.

But let the adorning be the hidden person of the heart……..the hidden person is who you are deep down.

For those of us who know Jesus, the hidden person is a woman who has been transformed from the inside out by God’s spirit.

2 Corinthians 4: 16 talks about the hidden person, Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Of course, I couldn’t help but think of my Mom as I read shared this scripture. As most of you know, I lost my Mom to cancer in 2009.

I saw this type of beauty in her as she was dying from cancer. Although her outward body was dying, her inner beauty never looked more beautiful.

How could she look beautiful when cancer was destroying her body?

Mom looked beautiful as she was dying because the hidden person of her heart had been transformed by Jesus.

This was Mom’s secret:

Mom didn’t wait until her life on earth was almost over to know Christ. She spent her whole life getting to know Christ. She didn’t just go to Christ on the difficult days; she went to Him every day.

Mom had a consistent dose of God’s word. She read it, she studied, and she lived it.

Mom’s hidden person was the relationship she had been cultivating with Christ for years! Her beauty was her Savior!

I want that kind of beauty, don’t you? 

Our hair might gray, and our skin might wrinkle but the beautiful woman focuses on her inner beauty–the hidden person of the heart.

I grew up singing this song in church and I can see my Mom singing it, it was one of her favorites. This is an updated version but it makes me think of Mom.

 

Have a blessed Sunday!

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  1. Thank you for sharing Cyndi! We live in a culture that is focused on the superficial. I needed reminding that my true beauty comes from God’s transforming power inside me! I have a Godly mom too. She is 70 and absolutely beautiful!!!

  2. Cyndi- I love Matthew West’s rendition of this song. So beautiful. What beautiful words about your mom. Thank you for sharing such personal info about your story with her. What a beautiful legacy she has left for her family. God bless and a big hug to you today 🙂

  3. A beautiful post and I could say the exact same thing about my Mom. She died of a massive stroke 5 1/2 years ago and it was such a loss for me but she left me such a rich heritage. Happy Lord’s Day to you too!!!

  4. Hi sweet Cyndi, I was so touched reading your story about your Mother’s beauty shining through her physical self as she died. Six years ago, I had the privilege (yes, privilege) of sitting with my mother-in-law while she spent her last two days on this earth. She was an incredible woman of Christ, her every act reflected her love for her God and her family. She brought Christ to so many people throughout her complete involvement in prison ministry and within her community. As I sat at the foot of her bed rubbing her feet (she always LOVED that), I noticed the closer she came to her call, she seemed to grow younger looking with each passing hour. The day she died, I noticed that she looked like a glow was coming from within her. I did not see a dying woman, but rather a woman in all her beauty preparing to meet her great LOVE. I felt so honored to be there with her. I know for certain that your Mother grew more beautiful. As she grew more near to the light of her Lord, her beautiful inner spirit and grace rose to the surface and all you were able to see was her lovely true self, which was her Lord and Savior. God shine His blessings upon you Cyndi for sharing this wonderful piece of Scripture with us and painting a picture of it with the story of your sweet Mother and thank you for gracing us with the inspirational song so loved by you and your Mother.

  5. What a beautiful post Cyndi and so poignant to where a lot of women are today. I know in my small group at church, this is what we have been working on to become. Beautiful from the inside, out. In addition, I understand what your describing about your lovely mom. I lost my dad in 2011 to cancer as well. And yet, he lived the example of what it means to follow Christ. His Eulogy service was just awe-inspiring with people standing up and giving tearful testimony at the kind of true, authentic person he was. I’m sure you miss her terribly as I do my dad. But, I feel thankful for both of us to have had the privilege of being raised by these wonderful parental examples. May God bless you richly on your journey and thank you for your encouragement.

  6. Thanks for sharing this version of my favorite hymn, and also for the important reminder of where our true beauty is found. Your post reminded me of the quote “A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ that one must seek Him to find her.”

  7. thank you for always reminding us of what is important while helping us be the best inside and outside.
    Some of the hymns are so moving and full of His message that I have often thought how one could know Him and accept Him as Savior just from hearing some of them.

  8. I love that hymn! I grew up singing that beautiful song, too and it just brings back so many wonderful memories. 🙂

    You are absolutely correct in the fact that beauty on the inside shines on the outside. “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…” Have a wonderful Sunday!

  9. Good Lord’s Day Cyndi! What a lovely tribute to your mom! Even though we’ve never met I’m sure you’re as beautiful as your mom. She passed it on to you and left a beautiful legacy. God bless you.