More than just a passing fad, skincare obsession is here to stay; and there’s no denying it; skincare has become the new religion for most women.
And, who knows, you might be among them? Don’t believe me? Check your medicine cabinet and tell me if it has any medicine or…makeup. What about your Instagram feed? Is it filled with pictures and videos of skin care products? And, don’t get me started on people planning their meals based on what’s good for their skin.
Let me get it clear: I’m not judging –ok, maybe a little bit – nor am I saying that as a Christian woman, you are not allowed to wear makeup and take care of your skin. However, it’s easy for Christian girls and women to go astray in this beauty-obsessed world and forget what’s most important to them.
From Psalms 139: 5/13-16:
“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. For you created my inmost being; knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
From Proverbs 31: 29-31:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
From Leviticus 19: 27-28:
“Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”
From 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13/ 31-33:
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”
From 1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
From Philippians 3 15-16/20-21:
“All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained…our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
From 1 Corinthians 6:19:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…”
From Job 19:26:
“And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God…”
From 1 Timothy 4:7:
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
From John 4:24:
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
From 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”