How important is it for you to look good on the outside? What is real beauty??
Is it your hair, your clothes, your smile? The way you walk, the way you talk?
What is it that makes you “beautiful?”

1 Samuel 16:7 - Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (AMP)

Share story of walking “cool” in middle school ~ In junior high I was more worried about how people saw me and how I looked from the outside than anything else.  It started to affect how I acted and lived.

I was so worried about how I looked to others, that I thought about it all the time.
Never forget that we are made in God’s image. We are his beautiful workmanship.

What’s your definition of pretty??

Kristi is angry and depressed because God didn’t make her “pretty.” She has a distorted view of beautiful. Her view of beauty comes from worldly things. We’re constantly inundated by the world’s standards of beauty. Mention Dove video (below)

Quick Point - Please don’t neglect the vessel that God has given you. God considers our bodies His temple because He lives on the inside of every believer. So take care of yourself but don’t become obsessed.

Luke 12:7 - Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (NKJV)
God cares for you and loves you down to the deepest detail.
Picture a book that looks amazing on the outside. What good is it if the pages are blank??

Matthew 23:27-28 - In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (read NKJV and MSG)

Invest in your inner growth. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul says “things which are seen are temporary, things which are not seen are eternal.” Invest in your inner beauty, in your spirit.

Four Quick Points on tracking your inner beauty:

1. Self-examination and confession ~ examine your heart and motivation. Confess God’s best over yourself
2. Get with friends that love you enough to speak truth to you ~ keep each other accountable, don’t be a bunch of empty books.
3. Spend time alone with God!
4. Spend time in God’s Word daily!