Did you know that only 2 percent of women would describe themselves as beautiful?

How would you define beauty?

Is it perfect skin?

Blonde Hair?

Size 2 Jeans?

A Hott Boyfriend?

Beauty is not defined by: a number on the scale a premanufactured clothing size an hourglass shape washboard abs slender thighs big boobs a J-Lo butt pouty Angelina Jolie lips a pair of designer low-rise jeans a cleavage-baring top a new sassy haircut a clear complexion

While some of the attributes on the previous page may garner catcalls from men, they don't impress GOD in the least.

What exactly is beauty? The Dove Campaign asked women and found that: Seventy-seven percent strongly agree that beauty can be achieved through attitude, spirit, and other attributes that have nothing to do with physical appearance. Eighty-nine percent strongly agree that a woman can be beautiful at any age. Eighty-five percent state that every woman has something about her that is beautiful

Beauty is defined by God and God alone. He sets the standard for beauty and gives us clues throughout Scripture as to what defines a beautiful woman.

1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and wearing gold jewelry and fine clothing. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Devaluing Beauty As a culture, we call a lot of things beautiful. In most cases we are talking about the prettiness or likeability of a person or thing. But does that mean that it is beautiful ?

I Samuel 16:7 The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

However, it would be wrong to say that external beauty should be ignored. This is not Biblical.

God created our appreciation of beauty Humans are the only species that appreciates beauty We love art and music and a beautiful sunset, we are drawn to beautiful things No other living thing even thinks about what is beautiful and what isnt Yes, all creatures declare glory to God but they do not understand the hugeness of it all

Many of Gods creations are beautiful on the outside and are noted in the Bible for it.

God created these creatures to be beautiful for a reason…

Esther The young woman was lovely and beautiful. Esther 2:7 What was Esthers story? And how does her story relate to the topic of beauty?

Esther Because of her outward beauty, Esther was capable of getting closer to the King. Esther was taken as the queen against her will. She was chosen for her exceptional beauty, and yet it was actually what the king didnt see that attracted him to her So from the beginning of Esthers involvement with the king, it is clear that he was attracted to a depth within her, and it is through this that she is ultimately able to maneuver what needs to be done to save her people. God used Esther physical beauty as a tool to give Himself glory.

God has made you the way you are for a purpose. He has given you special gifts so that you can use them to His glory. Maybe physical beauty is one of your gifts; use it for His glory.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

No matter what types of gifts God has given you (or not given you) remember to focus your attention on cultivating your inner beauty. We can ALL be beautiful on the inside.

Outer beauty in the end will fade as to inner beauty that lasts forever.