speaking to women:

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

1 Peter 3:3

I just love this verse.

To me the word “merely” is a gift.

Our focus needs to be on our inward beauty: heart, mind, souls. God requires our inner beauty to be evident.

but the “merely” allows the inclusion of outward beauty.

I love that God includes it in the duty of a woman and we don’t have to wear sackcloth to be holy:)

(see proverbs 31:10-31 for a more detailed description and another of my favorite passages)

*note: Outward beauty is not a replacement for true beauty of the spirit and heart, but inner beauty is naturally shown in a woman of grace and joy who doesn’t allow her focus to be of this world, but instead decides that in order to glorify God completely she will do it with her heart and her daily appearances. Something about a modest and graceful woman with a beautiful well thought out demeanor and appearance brings more glory to God, than an attempted modesty and the conviction that beauty is only within which instead leads to sloppy dress or unkempt appearances brought on by false attempts to be ‘modest’ and ‘holy’.