The Set Apart Girl has Inner Beauty

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

I Peter 3:3-3

Have you seen Rihanna on the cover of that new magazine? Did you see the Victoria's Secret fashion show? I absolutely have to have that new shade of Cover Girl lipstick!

As women, we love to look beautiful, and  feel pretty - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! God created women to be beautiful, delicate, and special in so many ways. The bible speaks about many "beautiful women." In fact, I encourage pampering yourself as much as you feel you need it. 

Daily, we spend time and effort in looking beautiful for ourselves and others. Day in and day out, we critique ourselves and others on the way we look. It is true that when you leave your house, you should take time to make sure you look neat a presentable. However, the problem that the girls of the world face is that they focus all of their time, energy, and money on becoming false image of "beautiful". They loose sight of who God says they are, and begin to become blinded by vanity, ego, and self-admiration. There is no sin in looking classy, fabulous, and glamorous. However, conceitedness, narcissism, and self-worship, are sin. Girls of this world put the love of "self" before their love of God.

When I was in high school, I wore long hair extensions because I felt having long hair made me feel pretty. I spent hundreds of dollars each month to make sure my hair was beautiful, so that I felt beautiful. During one of my routine styling appointments, I removed the extensions and had my natural hair washed. After my natural hair was blow dried and styled, I looked in the mirror. Instantly, I burst into tears. I hated the way I looked. My own hair wasn't good enough, and I did not feel beautiful at all. I went home, and added more extensions to my hair.

The problem was not the hair extensions. The problem was not what other people thought of me. The problem I had was loving myself for who God made me to be. I had fallen so in love with this "false appearance" of myself that I could not even look at myself in the mirror without crying. I had been blinded by vanity. 

God does not want you to have an experience like I had. He wants you to love His creation (you) whether you have on a full face of makeup, or just woke up and hopped out of bed. The Set Apart girl realizes that her beauty comes from within. The bible tells us that "People judge by outward appearance, but God looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). God sees you just as you are. He loves that you are a kind, and giving person. God loves that you are good with kids and that you pray for others. Those are qualities that make you beautiful to God. He created you and every beautiful feature on your body. Start seeing yourself as God sees you. Love yourself for who God created you to be. Your smile, your personality, your sense of humor, are all things that make you who you are. Don't hold back, and don't be afraid to stand out. Be you, and shine from the outside in. 

Think about it...

Why do you think God created you the way you are? What can you do that no one else can do? 

Focus Scriptures:

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

Proverbs 31:30

A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Proverbs 11:16

Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:24

There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!

Proverbs 29:31

The Set Apart Girl Follows Jesus

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

1 John 2:6

 People of the world believe that going to church every sunday makes one a "Christian." Sometimes even as Christians, we believe that going to church or serving in ministry leads to a relationship with God. The term "christian" was given to those who followed Jesus when he walked on the earth.  Going to church every sunday won't get you into heaven. Singing in the choir won't get you special privileges with God. Living and loving as Jesus did makes you a true follower of Him. 

God sent His only begotten son, Jesus, here to earth to be an example of what we should be. Although the Son of God, Jesus was human just like you and me. He got hungry, he got tired, and he was tempted by the devil. There is nothing that you and I go through that Jesus did not also have to face. Jesus prayed, so we are to pray. Jesus showed unconditional love to others just like we should. In bible times, Jesus' disciples were those who not only followed Him around, but they also studied Him and lived by following His example. To be more like Jesus, you have to first learn about Jesus and how He lived His life. 

The Set Apart girl lives the set-apart lifestyle, just as Jesus did. She follows the example of Jesus and truly lives to please her Heavenly Father. To receive the promises of God, you have to first be obedient to God. Just as a mother rewards her son or daughter for good behavior, our Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we are obedient to Him. Jesus says that if we love Him, we will do what He says to do (John 15:10).

Think about it...

What can you do to be more like Jesus?

Focus Scriptures:

If you love me, obey my commandments.

John 15:10

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

John 15:10

Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

John 14:23

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:17

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

The Set Apart Girl Finds Her Identity in Christ

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

When we are born, our identity comes from this world. Our parents give us a name, we belong to a family, and we learn how to live from our environment. As we grow, we learn to like and dislike things, foods, and people. We live to have experiences that mold and shape who we will later become. When a person becomes born again, they take on a new identity - a Heavenly identity.

Girls of this world will find their identity in the things they own, or the accomplishments they have achieved. The girl of this world brags about the degree she earned from the prestigious university she attended. The girl of this world bullies and gossips about others because she believes she is better than the "average person". The girl of this world will exalt herself and all that she has done, and can do. Although it is good to have goals, and work hard, Jesus tells us "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" (Matthew 6:21). If your desires are in and of this world, your heart will follow the unGodly patterns of this world. 

When she becomes born again, the Set Apart Girl now takes on her new identity through Jesus Christ.  Her desires change from wordly desires to Heavenly desires. She no longer brags about what she can do, but she lives just as Jesus did. Christ died on the cross for our sins so that we can live again in Heaven with our Father God. The bible tells us that those that belong to Him will reign as heirs along with Jesus in Heaven (Romans 8:17). When the Set Apart girl realizes she is already royalty in Heaven, the things of this world become less important. 

 heir (n.) [air]

a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.

The Set Apart girl lives to store up her treasures in Heaven. She commits her time, resources, and talents to God's plan for her life. She lives this life here on earth to live again in Heaven. She behaves as an heir to the promises of God. 

Think about it...

When we get to Heaven, we will rule as joint heirs with Jesus. How does this change your opinion about how you should live your life here on earth?

Focus Scriptures:

And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right, to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:29-30

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Ephesians 1:4

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

November Study: The Set Apart Girl

Do you know that you are special to God? Do you know that He created you for a special purpose, to make a difference in this world? You are hand-picked and loved by the Almighty God. He chose you, and wrote your story before you were even formed in your mother's womb. God spoke to Jeremiah and told him,

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5

Just like Jeremiah, God has a special plan for your life. You may not be a prophet like Jeremiah, but you have been chosen by God to leave your mark on this world, to make a difference, and to bring glory to God. Because you are so special, our enemy (the devil) is jealous and does not want you to fulfill your purpose, or receive all that God has for you here on earth. So what does the devil do? He puts in front of us enticing distractions and feel-good sins of this world, to keep us focused on everything but God. The devil tries to deceive us with the things of the world to keep us from the promises of God. When you decide to become"set apart" for God's use, He can move and flow through you everyday of your life to fulfill the perfect plan He has for you. 

The Set Apart Girl is a girl who is after God's purpose for her life. She sets herself apart from the things of this world and stays focused on the things of God. What is the difference between a girl of this world and a set-apart girl? Stay tuned as we search the scriptures and learn to distinguish the differences from a worldly woman, and a virtuous woman.

Scriptures about Being Set Apart:

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

John 15:19

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

I John 2:15

Love Notes from God: Day 2

Love Notes from God:

You Are Mine

There are over 8 billion people on this earth, and thousands more being born every day. And guess what? Each and every single one of us are special to God. He knew each one of us before the foundation of this world. He knew you before your parents met. He know everything about your past, present, and future. God is not just some mighty ruler who looks down at earth and sees a bunch of nameless people running around. He knows each one of us by name. He knows what we like, he knows our fears, and he even knows our wildest dreams. God knows our troubles and our happiness. He made each one of us special, and he wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. He is our Heavenly Father and we belong to Him.

Isaiah 43:1

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

Write out Isaiah 43:1, replacing "O Jacob" and "O Israel" with your name. How does your understanding of this verse change when you understand that God is talking directly to you?