The 40-Day Mirror Fast: Focusing Your Eyes on Jesus and Off Your Appearanceნიმუში

What Are You Reflecting?

One of my biggest challenges with the mirror is this: It doesn’t show me what I want to see.

I hope to look in the glass and see a reflection that I consider beautiful. I want to see the right hair, facial symmetry, smooth skin, and everything the marketers tell me would make me beautiful.

But I miss the truth that my definition of beauty differs from God’s.

So, whose definition of beauty do I cling to? The world’s definition or the Word’s? Can I believe that God knows more about beauty than Vogue and Instagram?

For me, it comes down to this: Do I long to be "hot" or holy? This is a question I've grappled with through my writing and on my podcast. The wrestling match in my head and heart battles with questions like: Why do I try so hard to please the mirror and scale? Why do I make their measures of me my standard instead of measuring myself by God’s standards?

This is tough, especially in a culture obsessed with beauty.

Here are the questions I ask myself about my body image and relationship with the mirror. Consider asking yourself these questions in your prayer time today.

• Do I want the image I see in the mirror to reflect culture?
• Do I hope that my look meets the current standards of my people and context so that I can receive their acceptance and praise?
• Or do I desire to meet the standards of Jesus?

When I search my heart, I find that my longings fall short. Too often, I settle for the standards of this world instead of longing for the higher ways of God. You see, I can’t find a Bible verse where Jesus commands me to weigh a certain amount or look “good” according to our culture. Let’s look at what he asks of us instead.