A Few Minutes with God: A Devotional on 1 Peter 3:3-4 Outward vs Inward Beauty
Posted: Sunday, March 27, 2011
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
1 Peter 3: 3-4 Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
If you are thinking this is not a problem for me, I don’t have time for curling irons and make-up, you are not alone (Men, replace with what applies to you in this area.) Often times, my alarm doesn't go off (or is it on? Not my fault, of course.) This destroys my morning routine and it's all I can do to shower and brush my teeth. Do my hair and make-up; what’s that! So it's off to work; presentable yet hardly outwardly beautiful. Okay, I got the first verse down. Now for the second: a gentle and quiet spirit. This? This might be a problem.
Today I will focus on ___________ area of my heart.
Father, You are beautiful in every way. Help me to set my priorities straight. Help me to recognize anything that I am putting before you so that I may rearrange my morning. Lord, thank you for all you do. May I reflect more of you today than I did yesterday. Make my heart right. Help me to humble myself in any area where I may need to seek a family member or a co-worker's forgiveness for my behavior. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yah, that's what I will ask Him when I see Him face to face (or maybe I should ask now) gentle and quiet spirit for a black and white prophetic type? Hum.... seems we have a long way to go here but I guess I am much more gentle and quiet than I used to be - how about you?
I am off to work on your Ephesians study - got stuck last time with your first fill in the blanks and will try again (not sure what you were looking for on page 4 (I think it was) SO now that I am awake and it is morning maybe it will be clarified! Sending you an e-hug! MarijoI am definitely much more quiet than I used to be - still have lots of work to do, but I am heading in the right direction. Yes - filling in the blanks - it is an exercise to help scripture memorization. Though if one is using a different version other than NKJV it might not flow as easy. (I may need to re-do that section.) I am so glad to hear you are learning from it! Praise God! Thank you for the support!I use Amplified and NKJV most of all so this should work... am finally getting to the point where I can go and sit and soak....(dishes, wash, going through closets and pantry to see what I can give to church, vacuuming, cleaning kitty boxes, putting things away are FINALLY done -sigh - it is snowing here in the mountain meadow so I am off the hook for walking outside today - GRIN.That's great. It will def work. Snowing? wow. I never thought I would say this, but I miss the rain and cuddling by a fire. The part of Oregon we lived in gets snow once or twice a year and it only lasts a few days. If we are lucky, we get six or seven inches. It's the black ice that was constant and scary through the winter. That I don't miss.
AMEN!I prayed with you too...This article is very much of TERESA...lol...I want to add a simple thought to the article. God sees the intention or attitude of a man's or woman's heart behind everything...Why we wear ornaments, to show off or just to look presentable? Why I use an iPhone? To look better than others or for its use which helps me in my work... Our attitude became haughty and boastful when we usually use such material things. That's why if we think of not acquiring more and more stuff for ourselves then we can concentrate more on others by giving away things...and can make ourselves "gentle and quiet spirit."Thanks Chiradeep! I agree with what you added. Thank you for sharing it. We need to always be aware of our motives and attitudes! Blessings dear friend!
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