Your Hidden Beauty
ICS Daily Devotions

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) Your adornment must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.

While some people might look beautiful on the outside, it doesn’t mean they can tame their tongue. Those who are sarcastic, vulgar, bitter, divisive, ultra-opinionated, argumentative, gossipy and fierce bring a sense of discomfort or dislike to those in their company.

Although this passage refers to married women, in fact, every person should begin living it out. The Lord encourages us to let the inner man who is gentle, peaceful, self-controlled, not overanxious, full of love, gracious and spiritually mature to flow out of our lives. Therefore, let the spring that is full of fresh water flow out of you—it will attract people to you and even cause your spouse to change.

You need to declare God’s blessings over your family. You can and should say good things about your spouse, your kids, and your finances, such as “my marriage is blessed. I love my wife/husband. We have a marriage made in heaven.” It means your marriage is glued together by God’s blessings.

You also need to make faith declarations. Because God’s love is the best way to build relationships, we can say, “I walk in God’s love, and am patient and kind. I am never envious or jealous, boastful or vainglorious. I don’t display myself haughtily. I am not conceited, rude and don’t act unbecomingly. I don’t insist on my rights, for I am not self-seeking; I take no account of the evil done to me. I don’t rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but when right and truth prevail. God’s love in me will never fail (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). I want to have friends, so I will show myself to be friendly. Today, I will sow friendship seeds (Proverbs 18:24)”.

If you want to see good days in your life and enjoy the abundant life, you need to be intentional in making changes to your speech by speaking life and blessings. The transformed life is living from the inside out, and allowing the inner man to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bridle our tongue and to reign in the flesh. The new life will respect, honour, and pray for those in authority rather than rebel in words and actions, and instead of being an instigator for strife or creator of a toxic environment, we will be peacemakers and restorers of relationships.

Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign 2023