Pearls

I’ve always thought it would be fun to have a full makeover similar to what I’ve seen on television or in magazines. When I turned 50, I decided to treat myself to a makeover with an Image Consultant in Fort Worth, Texas. I had never been willing to spend the money on something like this because I considered it a frivolous expense; but coming face to face with the momentous occasion of turning 50, I decided to splurge. The makeover included the standard change in makeup, a recommended hairstyle, a color analysis, and a full body analysis. They removed my current makeup, pulled back my hair, analyzed my skin and facial complexion, poked and prodded, and then measured every inch of my body. They pampered me and reapplied my makeup providing a custom blended foundation created just for me.
At the end of the day, we reviewed a customized binder that I was given to take home including recommended makeup choices, hairstyles to flatter my face, a custom color swatch ring for my best colors, and an analysis of the best clothing styles for my body type from suits, to hats, to shirts, to belts, to pants, to shorts, to shoes, and even jewelry. I had a lot of fun that day, and I still use this information in color and clothing selection. The professional consultation and time spent actually changed some of my preconceived ideas that I thought would never change. I left the makeover and immediately got a new haircut and changed my makeup. I went home and reviewed the styles and colors of the outfits in my closet from a new perspective. I have come to terms with the fact that while black may be slimming, it really isn’t my best color. At the end of the day, my outside image was reshaped, but who I was on the inside wasn’t changed by this type of makeover.
Think of God as your own professional personal image consultant. He is there every day giving you the guidance you need for each decision you make regarding your inner beauty. One of the great things about our own personal image consultant is that He is free. Jesus paid the price. In the beginning, man was made in God’s image. This image was spiritual. Sin broke the relationship, but Jesus was God’s gift to restore that relationship. We are born once physically and then born once again spiritually through Christ. When we are born again spiritually in His image, prayer then enhances His image reflected in us.
What we are on the inside is reflected on the outside. Worry inside causes wrinkles outside, but the peace that comes from prayer smooths our wrinkled life. Laziness makes for weak muscles, but kneeling in prayer and stretching our arms before God tones our inner muscles giving us outer strength.
As we wear our pearls of prayer, we find that the different colors, shapes, and sizes of these pearls enhance our beauty. The situations God has brought us through and the prayers He has answered and continues to answer shape us into who He wants us to be. Each of our individual strands of pearls will be different, and we only get these pearls through prayer.
I Peter 3:3-4 says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” Don’t just hire an image consultant for the outside, accept the image consultant paid for by Christ to rework the inside. Our inner adornment begins with prayer. Prayer is the strand of pearls shining from your heart with incorruptible beauty.