Inner Beauty Exercise!

I think I was around the age of twelve when I started visualizing my ideal body. It resembled the tall, lean and rock hard physique of Gabrielle Reece (minus about four inches in height). I remember cutting her out of a magazine and coveting those tan legs, washboard abs and lean biceps as my own. Twelve years later (yes, I’m a very stubborn, slow learner!) I’ve realized that this hasn’t gotten me anywhere. As far as I know, my physique hasn’t yet been compared to Laird’s bride and the color of my skin can be more likened to a bar of ivory soap.

I recently came across one of her ads and admit that I felt pretty envious of her statuesque frame. And while I was tempted to run about five miles and do a plyo-metric workout in the sand in addition to the exercise I'd already done for the day, I felt God's gentle touch convincing me to do otherwise. So, I did something new! I closed my eyes and imagined myself more beautiful within than ever before. And as I did I couldn't really make out what I looked like, but I "saw" or "felt" a radiant glow that overpowered my external beauty. I felt alive, whole, and eager to love others. During this "inner beauty workout" as I called it I was so focused on filling others up because my heart was filled to the brim with God's love. "We love because He first loved us." My spirit of striving subsided and I was able to rest secure in God's presence.

So God has been teaching me, and slowly I've been listening. While I still have an affinity for fitness and sports (confession: I daydream about being on American Gladiators someday!) I'm realizing that envying other women's bodies for my own isn't going to get me anywhere. Rather, as I allow God through His Holy Spirit to refine me from within I am transformed into the person He desires me to be (in body, mind and spirit) for HIS GLORY, not my own!

Have you gotten your inner beauty exercise today?