Body Image

A Devotional

Women everywhere can relate to this subject. I’ve seen it happen right in front of my eyes, we become increasingly aware that our bodies aren’t good enough.

It doesn’t matter what size you are (yes thin girls have this too) but around the age of 10 we all transition from being little girls who could care less how we look to adolescents that are convinced they are not the right size. 

And who determines the right size I ask you? Of course the bulk of the blame could be laid upon the media. All the supermodels and Tik Tokers that show our girls that their body is better than theirs and how to go about achieving this impossible goal. But I have news for you. The blame lies almost solely with us. Their mothers. 

We don’t (I hope) do it on purpose, but they hear us. They see us trying to achieve this same goal. They hear us berating ourselves! It’s been a vicious cycle since, I don’t know when. I feel it’s another one of our curses as women. To feel less than. 

Once upon a not so distant time, men helped us along on this endeavor. Telling us we were lagging in most forms. It wasn’t any individual man’s fault, it was a sign of the times. We couldn’t vote or own land. We dare not speak out of turn and for heaven’s sake we needed to always look our best! Hair and makeup done, corset sinched, dress just so….I could go on and on.

Times have changed and yet few have made the mental switch that our bodies are just as God intended them to be. 

Different.

I am not here to judge any of you. I have been overweight for the better part of my life. I’ve had weight loss surgery. I’ve gained some back. My body image is about as bad as it can get. That’s why I feel the need to speak out about this issue. Because, just like everything else you’ll see spoken about here, I suffer from the same affliction!

God wants us to constantly work on ourselves but I do not believe he gives a crap about the outside. He only cares about our hearts and our souls. Our works of good deeds, helping our fellow woman, being kind.

Be gentle with yourself so that our daughters will learn to be gentle to themselves. We would all lose our minds if we heard anyone speak to our children the way we speak to ourselves, don’t deny it!

So take a moment to tell yourself that you’re beautiful and perfect just how you are today. Ignore those things you think are wrong with your body. And just smile. Because you are God’s child and He loves you!

Genesis 1:27 NIV “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Prayer: 

Father God, we come to you as your children. We come on bended knee to ask for your grace and love. Lord, this is something we struggle with giving ourselves and we are so blessed that you give it to us at all times. We know you made us in your image, yet we never feel worthy. Lord help us see You in us, help us to see our beauty. Help us to not only change our perspective but to share it with others, so that we may heal future generations. We ask this as your daughters, Amen.

Devotions questions and actions;

Action: Take a dry erase marker and write the following on your bathroom mirror; “I am beautiful and I am enough”

Question: How many times a day do you mentally or verbally hate your body?

Question: What is your favorite body part? This can be anything and be honest!

Question: Tell me something you do for yourself that makes you feel beautiful. 

Action: Compliment another woman. Either virtually or in person, I guarantee it will make her smile.