Fortified Beauty

Beauty isn't all about looks. It's about what makes life worthwhile. It's about enriching. It is costly in terms of time and learning the right lessons. Wrong choices strip beauty from your life. Those mistakes steal years from your life, even decades. It isn’t worth it. What is rich and beautiful, is fortified.

Ezekiel 36:35 (NIV)

They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.”

Even though this verse is not talking about a person, it comforts me. Where once my life was a wasteland, it has first become fortified again, and slowly, slowly, where everything was desolate and destroyed, is now being rebuilt and replanted. There is beauty being established once more. But this time, it's fortified beauty.

Beauty must be protected. It will be coveted by others but it can also be destroyed by others. For it to endure, beauty must be fortified where the eye can’t see.

If I could say one thing to anyone, choose wisdom in all things, above your own desires and needs, above your own seeking after things.

Proverbs 4:2-15 (NCV)

What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach you. When I was a young boy in my father’s house and like an only child to my mother, my father taught me and said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget or ignore my words. Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it will keep you safe. Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honour. It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life. I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed. Always remember what you have been taught, and don’t let go of it.

Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life. Don’t follow the ways of the wicked; don’t do what evil people do. Avoid their ways, and don’t follow them. Stay away from them and keep on going

James 1:5 (NCV)

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.

Choose what you know to be right and turn away, run away as fast and as furiously as you can, from what you know to be wrong or even from what you don't know to be right. Life is precious and mistakes are so very costly.

Don’t be afraid of making wrong choices, just choose to be wise.

How?

Life isn’t just about self. In fact, it isn’t about self, at all. Listen.

Spare the time to diligently learn and study the way of life. The bible. Sow into your gifts so that you will continually grow and develop. This will allow life to expand around you. Choose the right people around you. This doesn’t mean being isolated nor does it mean being exclusive in your friendship circle. Just be careful with those you have close to your heart and mind, those you choose to listen to. Decide on the things you do with your time and don’t waste it on things that don’t build you up. Everything you see, hear, and do will have an impact on you in some way.

Don't you worry about what other people are doing or thinking. You consider your ways and follow what's right. God will support you.

What type of grooming really matters in life? What type of building and planting?

Haggai 1:5-13 (The Message)

And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again:

“Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much—a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what.”

That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.”

Then God said: “Here’s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honour me. You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it.

“And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That’s why. Because of your stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a meagre crop. I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought, drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing—not man or woman, not animal or crop—is going to thrive.”

Then the governor, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God.

When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honoured God.

Then Haggai, God’s messenger, preached God’s Message to the people: “I am with you!” God’s Word.

Beauty is not just skin deep, as the old saying says. Beauty is really about what is buried underneath, where moth and vermin cannot destroy. Beauty is all about your fortifications.