Today's guest blogger is Miranda Canady, who works with Lily Girls Magazine (online). That group promoted "Wake Up to No Makeup", day that challenges girls to forego their Maybelline for a day. As you read the post, allow the words to sink past your intellect and into your heart. We've all heard these truths before, but somehow their familiarity keeps us from absorbing them, really absorbing them. As a leader of girls, it was a reminder to me of two things: 1. Just because you "grow up" doesn't mean the Enemy stops attacking; and 2. God still has some work to do in my heart.
Monday I spent an entire day without makeup (insert audible gasp) for Lily Girl’s Magazine’s “Wake Up to No Makeup Challenge.” Scary, right? As I got up that morning and stared long and hard into the mirror, I took notice of things I so quickly covered up. Those freckles on my nose? It must have taken God forever to keep them so close without running together. And the scar above my eyebrow? My own fault, yet completely planned and known by God. And I started to feel guilty and even a little convicted of the way I had been viewing myself.
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece." God uses the word “masterpiece” to describe us, but according to the Dove Global Report, women were more comfortable using the words natural or average to describe themselves.
Sometimes my biggest struggle is that I KNOW the truth of God's Word, but I don't always believe it. Some mornings I wake up and look in the mirror and think, "Ehhh..." or try on clothes in a dressing room and end up beating myself up about my lack of self control with desserts. What an insult to God! I'd be crushed if I spent time making something I thought was beautiful only to have someone say it was ugly.
The root of the problem here is not in feeling or looking good. The problem is that Satan uses insecurity about our appearance to lead us to a life of bondage, thus hindering us from doing the things God has planned for us.
In Nancy Lee DeMoss’ book, Lies Women Believe, she writes, “The fact is, if we devote our time and energy to staying fit, trim, glamorous, and youthful looking, we may achieve those objectives – for a while. But the day will come when we will regret having neglected to cultivate that inner beauty, character, and radiance that are pleasing to God and last forever.”
It’s not enough to simply know that you and I are "fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God" but truly believing it and putting it into practice. Lipstick always makes me feel like a lady and cute shoes put a little pep in my step. But those things are only temporary fixes. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you." We don't have to worry about measuring up - that includes being pretty enough, smart enough, or even successful - God accepts us exactly as we are. I, for one, am glad.
Want an even bigger challenge than spending a day without makeup? Try matching the time you spend getting ready in the mornings with the time you spend in the Word. If you spend an hour getting ready, dedicate an hour to reading your Bible. For a wakeup call, give yourself an allotted time to get ready the next morning based on how much time you spend studying God’s word the night before. Forgot your devo and skimmed through your Bible 5 minutes before bed? Looks like you’ll be getting ready in 5 minutes the next morning!
We loved this challenge! We posted our makeup less pics on our blog and facebook pages. Friends were asking us how to partake in the challenge and so I know it definitely made an impact and made girls think! One of my friends even wants to share the challenge with her co-workers!