Can I be real with y'all again? Cool, so here's another life story, lol ;-) There was a period when I couldn't go out without make up, as in noneeee! I remember this one day, I think it was a year after I got Saved, I put on a TON of makeup, as in, I CAKED IT UP GOOOOOOOODDDD!!!! (for those who don't know what that means, it means to put on a lot of make up!!) As in, Smack smack smack buttered-it-up-on my-face-type-of-make-up; and that day I felt the Lord say: "You're not going out like that...,"
LOL!
And I paused and said, ".....um....?"
:)
Yes, that actually happened. :)
Now, the Holy Spirit was not happy by this, but felt hurt. There was no time for debate because it wasn't even 2 minutes before I headed to my make-up wipes and I took off all my make-up. I went back to the mirror and heard the Lord say, "you're beautiful." Tearing up, I remember Him just repeating how beautiful I was. He was so gentle and comforting, knowing that this was going to be something that would take time to unpack, and so He took His time in unpacking it with me. I did have peace about putting on just "enough" afterwards because this was not a make-up issue, but in that moment, a heart issue (i.e the REASON I was putting make-up on at that particular time).
You see, God was telling me that He REALLY knew me and that if the people I was going to face (no pun intended) needed to be impressed by how I looked on the outside then they didn't know me and it wasn't worth that kind of effort.
LOL!
And I paused and said, ".....um....?"
:)
Yes, that actually happened. :)
Now, the Holy Spirit was not happy by this, but felt hurt. There was no time for debate because it wasn't even 2 minutes before I headed to my make-up wipes and I took off all my make-up. I went back to the mirror and heard the Lord say, "you're beautiful." Tearing up, I remember Him just repeating how beautiful I was. He was so gentle and comforting, knowing that this was going to be something that would take time to unpack, and so He took His time in unpacking it with me. I did have peace about putting on just "enough" afterwards because this was not a make-up issue, but in that moment, a heart issue (i.e the REASON I was putting make-up on at that particular time).
You see, God was telling me that He REALLY knew me and that if the people I was going to face (no pun intended) needed to be impressed by how I looked on the outside then they didn't know me and it wasn't worth that kind of effort.
Now, I still wear make up (like the pic to the left! lol!) because I love being creative and I think it's amazing how all these colors/designs were created (please remember this in case you see me next time with tons of make up on LOL!! ) and I absolutely LOVE to dress up and have fun with it and be all sorts with it, but I now do it for the "right" reasons, i.e. my heart is checked each time I do that. I also don't wear make-up when I want to as well, it's no longer a struggle :) It's now about the heart issue.
Does that mean we don't make mistakes and wear a bit too much sometimes and people laugh and say 'aha clowwwwnnnnny!'? No, But we still learn from those mistakes, just like every other trail and error, and we get back up and we move on from that afterwards ;-)
I will try to tell the story of how God unpacked this journey with me of insecurity and how He took me towards a journey of loving myself! If you know me, you can ask me about this, I'd be happy to tell you about it - even over coffee if have to! :) Even if you don't know me, message me, I'd still love to tell you about this and we can just sip our coffee - virtually! :P :)
Now, my main point here is that: 'don't put on make up for anybody else. Don't put on make up for your boyfriend, for your friends, for your family, for your relatives, IF your heart isn't right. It's a burden. There's a difference between putting on make-up because you want to look nice for a function, and then putting on make up because you think people will like you if you looked nice. The main thing here is about not 'people pleasing'. :)
When we talk about the heart issue, it can mean a few things, which may include these two:
Does that mean we don't make mistakes and wear a bit too much sometimes and people laugh and say 'aha clowwwwnnnnny!'? No, But we still learn from those mistakes, just like every other trail and error, and we get back up and we move on from that afterwards ;-)
I will try to tell the story of how God unpacked this journey with me of insecurity and how He took me towards a journey of loving myself! If you know me, you can ask me about this, I'd be happy to tell you about it - even over coffee if have to! :) Even if you don't know me, message me, I'd still love to tell you about this and we can just sip our coffee - virtually! :P :)
Now, my main point here is that: 'don't put on make up for anybody else. Don't put on make up for your boyfriend, for your friends, for your family, for your relatives, IF your heart isn't right. It's a burden. There's a difference between putting on make-up because you want to look nice for a function, and then putting on make up because you think people will like you if you looked nice. The main thing here is about not 'people pleasing'. :)
When we talk about the heart issue, it can mean a few things, which may include these two:
Knowing that at the end of the day, it's between you and God. Meaning that even if you looked absolutely amazing on the outside, the inside is what matters most and that's what God looks at. Remember the story of Samuel anointing the next king? It's sort of like that. :P
It's like we said before, assessing why we are doing something, whether we are doing it to please God, (i.e. to the Glory of God), or for people. There's freedom in knowing that you don't have to live to satisfy wavering opinions.
It should be the same for us. When we put on make up, it could be used as an expression or to enhance our features. Depending on the person, perception, culture, the definition of what this means will vary, however, and sometimes, you'll put on less or more than others, but it should be that at the end of the day, you're naked before God, able to be who you are.
I'm not saying that we'll be all perfect now and there won't be days where we want to hide our dark under-eyes! Or wear giant sunglasses because you just pulled an all-nighter to finish your essay *yikes!* (Let's be real people!!!) But what I AM saying, is more times than none, let's do it to express ourselves and enhance our features and be who we are instead of putting on a mask to portray something we're not.
If you are the girl who puts on makeup to express her inner self, do that. If you're the girl who hates make up, be that as well, but whether you're one or the other or in-between, don't judge the other, be who you're supposed to be and meant to be in Christ Jesus.
I'm not saying that we'll be all perfect now and there won't be days where we want to hide our dark under-eyes! Or wear giant sunglasses because you just pulled an all-nighter to finish your essay *yikes!* (Let's be real people!!!) But what I AM saying, is more times than none, let's do it to express ourselves and enhance our features and be who we are instead of putting on a mask to portray something we're not.
If you are the girl who puts on makeup to express her inner self, do that. If you're the girl who hates make up, be that as well, but whether you're one or the other or in-between, don't judge the other, be who you're supposed to be and meant to be in Christ Jesus.
P.s! Last year I wrote a song about this make up issue and I'd love to share it with you!! Keep a look out - I can't wait to share it with you. :)
Why do you put on make up? If you do put on make up for the so called 'wrong' reasons, do you think it's time to start to unpack those underlying things? Write these down and start unpacking them with God. Start being real with yourself about why you wear make up and start uncovering yourself with these things even if its for fun (i.e. the right reasons!).
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