“With God at the center- like the ‘sun,’ satisfying a woman’s longing for beauty and greatness and truth and love- all the ‘planets’ of food and dress and exercise and cosmetics and posture and countenance will stay in their proper orbit.” –John Piper
“A gentle and quiet spirit is an inner disposition of humble contentment and quiet tranquility rooted in an unwavering trust in God and His purpose.” –Jeff Purswell
Carolyn Mahaney has summed up a gentle and quiet spirit as “a steadfast peace because of a steadfast trust in God.” Now don’t despair. She goes on to say, “A 'gentle and quiet spirit' is not referring to a person with a quiet personality. In fact, it is possible to have a quiet personality and not have a gentle and quiet spirit. And it is just a feeble for a girl with an effervescent personality to have a gentle and quiet spirit. This spirit is not a personality type! A girl who processes a gentle and quiet spirit humbly responds to whatever God chooses for her life, regardless of the cost. Mary, the mother of Jesus is an excellent example: “Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” she said, when the angel informed her she would give birth to the Son of God. She humbly accepted God’s will, despite what it cost her. She displayed a steadfast peace because of her steadfast trust in God.”
When we trust God we are making ourselves beautiful! And not only in God’s eyes; this beauty is apparent to others as well. This beauty also grows more and more beautiful as we grow older! The beauty our culture esteems might turn some heads, but the beauty God calls us to cultivate will make a lasting impact. A girl who cultivates inner beauty, who cultivates a steadfast trust in God—her beauty will have a lasting impact on the lives she touches.
We have only ONE person to please: The Lord should be the ONLY object of our pursuit for beauty. (1 Cor. 7:34) All our thoughts, motives, and actions related to beauty should be for the eyes of ONE and ONE only. Of course this will change once married, then we will have two to please: God and our husbands.
“Pure devotion to God will produce an appropriate concern for physical appearance. A godly woman will seek to present an outward appearance that honors God and attracts others to her character. The woman who trusts God with her looks, makes her “look” more beautiful”
For futher study:
"Putting On a Gentle and Quiet Spirit" by Elizabeth George
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