“A woman’s beauty is nothing less than an expression of God’s creative hand. Among many things, God made us to be beautiful. Just like the sight of Mt. Everest or the sun setting over the ocean, the sight of a beautiful woman should evoke feelings of awe, wonder, and respect for God’s creation. When we begin to compete with each other within that reality, we are choosing to worship ourselves instead.” via

For women, this is a relevant visual for where our worship energy goes. Comparison is something women can be trapped in, enslaved to. I know I’ve been there.

We praise whatever we behold, and share whatever we praise. If we, whether from fear or pride, are in constant beholding of ourselves —  judging ourselves, sizing up others within the first 2 minutes of meeting them — we steal that energy from our beholding of the Lord. If I’m not sharing God, then I’m not really enjoying God. If I’m not enjoying God, then I’m not seeing Him.

I want to see God. In my heart of hearts I want to see God.

I want to settle into my soul the truth that I don’t need better makeup, nicer clothes, more accomplishments, more stuff to be happy. I need God.

I want to enjoy what God has made — the beauty of every single human being on this earth — and not be enslaved to comparing myself to every single human being on this earth.

“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean.” Jonathan Edwards

Christianity gives us a way of looking at the world that is utterly unique and liberating. To be a Christian means we don’t look from the world, and we don’t look to the world. We look through the world.

“Idolatry looks at the world in amazement. Worship, true worship, looks through it in amazement. To its source. To the One who is infinitely more amazing.” Matt Papa

Beholding is becoming. Beholding Jesus will not make us less human, but more. It will make us meek. Courageous, loving, joyful, peaceful.

Oh, the kind of freedom that could be accessible to women if the energy we spent comparing, sizing up, and judging was put to supporting, defending, and rejoicing with one another!

Let’s do it, friends.

P.S. Why I create and Christianity Is An Explosion. & a fun spot over on Katherine’s blog.