Mega Muffin Tops
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
Emily E. Ryan and I have a lot in common. We are short and extra pounds show quickly when attached to our belly or thighs. Thankfully, we are both able to laugh and find some humor along the way to that “ideal weight.” She has shared a great message with us (Mornings with Jesus).
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I try to maintain a healthy body image, but because I’m just under 5 feet tall, it’s hard not to notice extra pounds when they collect on my waistline and squeeze out the top of my jeans. The older I get, the more my clothes seem to shrink.
I shared my weighty concerns with Jesus while driving down the freeway recently. I confessed it sometimes bothers me even though I think it shouldn’t. I know what the Bible says. I’m created in His image (Genesis 1:27). I am His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Yet I struggled to accept the parts of me that don’t measure up to the world’s standard. “What do I do, Lord?” I whispered as I exited the freeway. “Do I work harder to lose weight or just accept myself as I am?”
That’s when I noticed a breakfast diner ahead with a bold flashing sign that proudly proclaimed their special of the day: “Mega muffin tops!”
I burst out laughing at Jesus’s sense of humor. I’d never before had a prayer answered in such a comical way. Jesus both acknowledged and lightened my concerns with the blatant reminder that it doesn’t matter how many pounds or inches I have around the middle. He’s looking at my heart, not my waistline.
FAITH STEP: Look in the mirror and ask Jesus to help you focus less on your outward appearance and more on your heart.
Father, You are the Creator of life and we give You praise. We confess that we get caught up in the world’s definition of ideal and we can be so mean to ourselves. Thank You for Your kind and directional words that we find in the Bible. Teach us to focus more on You today. AMEN.