“Women, Have We Forgotten God?”

Jeremiah 2:32, “YOUNG WOMEN don’t forget their jewelry, do they? BRIDES don’t show up without their veils, do they? But My people forget Me. Day after day they never give Me a thought.” (MSG)

The New Living Translation says it like this: “Does a YOUNG WOMAN forget her jewelry, or a BRIDE her wedding dress? Yet for years on end My people have forgotten Me.” (NLT)

Like many women each morning, perhaps you wake up, pour yourself a cup of caffeine, take a shower and then get ready to meet the world. You pick out an outfit (preferably one that makes you look five to ten pounds lighter), do your hair and put on makeup. Finally, you add jewelry, a belt and maybe a purse. Then, Voila! You’re ready to meet the day!

But I’ve discovered that the care involved in our routines beg to ask the question: How much time do we spend getting ready spiritually each morning? Do we take any time at all to ask God to guide us during our day? Do we read the Scriptures, meditate or pray so that we can be more patient, kind and loving with our spouse and children? Or do we worry more about getting out the door than about the condition of our hearts before we exit? Do we take time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the way of escape when temptation arises? Do we ask for the discernment to see it and the wisdom to take it? As we're putting on our sneakers to head to the gym do we ask the Holy Spirit to put running in our feet when it's time to flee sexual enticements? Do we take time to pray about our day, our schedules, the people we will come into contact with throughout the day, our bosses and colleagues? Do we ask God to prioritize our day?

Truth is Sisters, caring for our Outward Appearance is not wrong…as long as we don’t neglect focusing on our Inner Thoughts and Attitudes as well. And that’s exactly where we mess up at.

But can you imagine if we took as much time in prayer as we do styling our hair, applying our make-up and designing our outfit for the day…the devil would be terrified as soon as our pretty pedicured feet hit the floor in the morning!

I also wonder how powerful we would be if we took the time daily to put on the whole armor of God as meticulously as we put on her clothing?

How many heart-breaks could we avoid if we protected our heart as well as we protect our hairstyles?

How beautiful would our Spirit be if we adorned it with the fruit of the Spirit as we adorn our bodies with the perfect matching pocketbook, shoes, belt, and jewelry?

What would our Spirit smell like if we were perfumed in the fragrance of Christ more than Cashmere Mist; Black Opium; Light Blue; Chanel; Daisy; Flowerbomb and the like?

Well, the prophet Jeremiah noted that WOMEN are unlikely to forget their accessories, but God’s people are prone to forget about Him! And if we’re honest, we will all admit that we are much like the Israelites. In the midst of our busy lives, God often gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do-lists. But I wonder if we really understand the depth of the heartbreak God must feel coming from us His DAUGHTERS, who remember to put on jewelry, but forget to put time in with our Father! The very One who calls us His priceless treasures, possessions and jewels...

Listen to the Amplified Bible: “Can a VIRGIN forget [to wear] her ornaments, Or a BRIDE her attire [that identifies her as a MARRIED WOMAN]? Yet My people have forgotten Me. Days without number.” (AMP)

As a married woman myself, I may not always leave the house in the morning with my husband or with my wedding dress, or even my marriage license/certificate, but I don’t leave without my wedding ring. As the Scripture says, “…Or a BRIDE her ATTIRE [THAT IDENTIFIES HER AS A MARRIED WOMAN]?” My ring may not be able to identify exactly Who I belong to, but it does identify that I belong to Someone! And WOMEN, the way we leave the house in the morning should be in such a way that people can look at us and be able to identify that we belong to God! But think about this: Jesus is a man who fasts; prays; declares the Scripture; spends time with the Father etc…so, if we don’t take time out daily to do these things in our waking hours, how will people be able to identify us as belonging to Him, when nothing about us show any indicators?

Sisters, spiritual growth happens from the inside, out. Therefore, we need to apply more maintenance to our inner man, than makeup to our outer!

1 Peter 3:1-6, “The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.” (MSG)

Ladies, this is what matters most! Your Inner Beauty! In fact, it’s so vital that even a husband that’s not listening to the voice of the Lord, will be persuaded to listen, just based off our lifestyles as good wives! And not only will he be persuaded, but the Scripture says he will be “captivated”. To “captivate”, is “to attract and hold the interest and attention of.” In other words, it’s not your outer appearance that will attract and hold that interest and attention, it’s your inner! Any man can be attracted to a beautiful woman with a sexy figure, but not all men are that shallow! Because, in the end, those things change and fade! Proverbs 31:30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates, but a woman who has the fear of the Lord should be praised.” (GWT) That word “evaporate” is defined as “turn from liquid into vapor; to cease to exist.” And that’s just like many beautiful women, who only have outer beauty…sooner or later…It Will Cease to Exist! You need more than mere superficial looks! The Amplified Bible says that verse like this: “Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.” (AMP) That word “superficial” means “existing or occurring at or on the surface only; not thorough or deep; lacking depth of character or understanding.” Its Latin Origin “superficialis”, from “superficies” means “top surface.” And sisters, that’s all outer beauty gets you, a cute top surface with no inner depth! No worthy man finds such vanity attractive. Instead a good/Godly man, is seeking a woman who, “…FEARS THE LORD [REVERENTLY WORSHIPING, OBEYING, SERVING, AND TRUSTING HIM WITH AWE-FILLED RESPECT]…” Nothing about that says anything about Maybeline, Cover-Girl, MAC, hips, lips and fingertips. Nothing about that has to do with the outer man or top surface, superficial nonsense. That’s a woman who works on her inner man daily. She is the example of a woman in the Image of God. A woman who takes time to beautify her Spirit, not just her Surface!

Ladies, Try this: Tomorrow as you shower, praise God for the cleansing that Jesus’ forgiveness provides; remind yourself of the showers of blessings God has allowed to flow in your life. As you’re getting dressed, thank God for clothing you with Christ’s righteousness and clothing you in your right mind; clothing you in the garments of praise; clothing you in humility. When you put on your moisturizer, ask God to soften your heart to His leading throughout the day. As you apply your make-up, thank Him for being the foundation of your life, faith and family. When you put in your contacts or put on your glasses, ask God to give you eyes to see His workings in the world, your life and family; and like Abraham, look to the West, East, North and South, for everywhere you look I have given it to you. And as you put on your jewelry, thank Him for beautifying your life with the fruit of the Spirit and that He has a jeweled crown and streets of gold laid up in waiting just for you. As you find the perfect shoes to clad your feet, ask the Lord to order your steps throughout the day; to remind you that beautiful feet belong to those who share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; remember that God has placed your feet like hinds feet able to stand on high places; and to even remember the promises to Joshua and his descendants that everywhere the sole of their feet shall tread God has already given them the land. As you comb your hair be grateful for your husband and your Lord who cover you. As you look into the mirror remember to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any spiritual flaws that need your attention. As you put on deodorant, be grateful that with God you no longer have to sweat the small stuff. There are so many simple and practical ways in which we can remember God daily as we spend time with Him, BEFORE, leaving our homes in the morning. These are just a few. See how many others you can come up with to help you in becoming a more beautiful woman daily, On the Inside!

Remember our text? Jeremiah 2:32, “YOUNG WOMEN don’t forget their jewelry, do they? BRIDES don’t show up without their veils, do they? But My people forget Me. Day after day they never give Me a thought.” (MSG)  

It’s now the second portion that has caught my attention: “…MY PEOPLE FORGET ME. DAY AFTER DAY THEY NEVER GIVE ME A THOUGHT.” This is God’s Own People, His Church, His Daughters, His Believers, who forget about the God who gave His body and blood, and said “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” How does one forget someone like that?

1 Corinthians 6:16-20, “…Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, SQUANDERING WHAT GOD PAID SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” (MSG) Did you catch that? “…GOD PAID A HIGH PRICE…” And for what? YOU! How can one forget the One who paid with body, blood, pain, sacrifice and life? And yet, God is the One stuck with this sad thought: “…MY PEOPLE FORGET ME. DAY AFTER DAY THEY NEVER GIVE ME A THOUGHT.” Sadly, if a man were to buy us a 10 carat diamond ring, we wouldn’t be so quick to forget him, even if there’s a break-up! Oh, we will remember him! And yet God who gave us Everything, says, “…MY PEOPLE FORGET ME. DAY AFTER DAY THEY NEVER GIVE ME A THOUGHT.”

Daughters of God, let us do better in spending time with our Father. He loves us, and all that He’s done for us and given to us, is too immeasurable to compare to the little we give Him in return daily. For Us, He gave forgiveness, salvation, healing, deliverance, provision, protection, blessings and miracles to say the least. Surely, we have more time to give to our Father. Surely, we don’t want to distort His Image in us, as we walk around daily with a beautiful body, and an ugly soul! Let’s start our day out better. Even if we have to sacrifice and wake up even earlier to do so, it’s worth it, He’s Worth It. After all, will there ever be a sacrifice that we make for Him, that can supersede His sacrifice for us? I think not.

Psalm 103:1-5, "O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless His holy name! O my soul, bless God, DON'T FORGET A SINGLE BLESSING! He forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you’re always young in His presence." (MSG)

“Help me, God, to slow down, to be silent, so I can hear You and do Your will and not mine.” (Marian Wright Edelman) 

“Money says earn me; calendar says turn me; time says plan me; future says win me; beauty says love me; But God simply says Remember Me.” (Pinterest)

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)
"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)