Psalm 139:14-16 (KJV)
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Of all the conversations I want to have with women doing my part, as a woman of God, to help you understand that God loves you from the inside out. It is difficult, as a no make up wearing, modest dressing, head covering submitted Christian, to tell women who love to dress fashionably in such away as to be noticed that godly women don’t need to market themselves.
Many women accept the advertisement that they see and hear. Women are bombarded with suggestions on how to loose weight, look younger and feel better; they are told it will make them feel better about themselves. Women are told they have a problem and they are given a solution, when one solution doesn’t work there is always an ad with another way to loose weight, get rid of wrinkles or look younger. Why?
Why do women struggle with image? I don’t think it has anything to do with “fat shaming” from their peers. Society is deluged with images of how “she” should look. The Bible disagrees with the worlds standards.
Yes, we should eat healthy. Yes, we should exercise. Yes we should posses and live by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (Galatians 5:22 KJV). From childhood many women are told how to look better so they can attract that special someone, in or minds it is translated: you are not good enough.
Let’s read Psalm 139:14-16 again. God knew each and everyone of us before we were born. “Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb,…” (Isaiah 44:2 KJV), your looks are no surprise to God and He loves you. The word of God states you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” that means you are amazing. Everything God made is good and you are “marvellous” this is what you should be telling your soul not what those ads are saying. You, your blemishes, your curves and lumps, your short hair, curly hair, pale skin, dark skin, all of your physical traits, your substance is not hidden from Him.
Your value is not based on your physical appearance. You are valued because you are a child of God. “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30 KJV) When you know your true worth you do not have to market it but you will take care of yourself.
When you know your true worth you will: exercise your body and your mind, you will eat right and associate with the right people. As a woman of God you will seek Him and do what is necessary to please Him and not them. And, you will not allow yourself to be abused, to be abused is to be treated poorly.
You are not someone’s source for sexual release. You are not someone’s prescription for releasing personal distress, verbal or physical. You are not the object of other’s jokes. You are not a mannequin to be dressed in the ideas of a stranger, no matter how famous he or she may be; stop buying designer clothes, buy what you like.
You don’t have to identify as a queen or a diva, be you: fearfully and wonderfully made. Understand God thought you were worth the price of His son.

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You, my sister, are worth the life, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, live like it.

Written by Marsha L Floyd