Getting A Healthy Glow - Fresh Start for Moms

AT THE RIPE AGE of thirty-three, I’m starting to notice the crater-sized pores on my face, the stray facial hairs, and the ruddy complexion. Yesterday I found a hair that was literally an inch long coming from my forehead! How? When I look in the mirror, I feel too young to feel this old. I get overwhelmed by the idea that this skin isn’t getting any better, and the rate of deterioration is only going to accelerate over the next thirty-three-plus years.

But before I take a nosedive into a sea of miracle creams, I’d like to spend some time in the book of Exodus, where we can learn an unexpected lesson in beauty from Moses. I know. It seems like I’m reaching on this one, but stay with me. That old guy with skin that was no doubt windburned and dry from decades in the desert knew a thing or two about getting a healthy glow.

I’ve always been captivated by Moses and his relationship with the Lord. The conversations he had with God and the things God said about him carry a lot of relevance for us today. I’m continually amazed by the intimacy he had with the Lord—something I wouldn’t typically expect for someone in the Old Testament. Over and over in Scripture we see Moses coming to the Lord in prayer, and we see God responding. God saved the Israelites time and time again, he healed Moses’ sister Miriam, and he turned away his wrath—all because Moses asked him to.

Perhaps most amazing of all, Moses got to go on a mountaintop and speak face-to-face with God. Here’s what happened afterward: “The Israelites would see the face of Moses, how his skin shone [with a unique radiance]. So Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God” (Exodus 34:35, AMP).

Y’all, I just love this! I want that healthy glow—the kind that comes from spending time in the Lord’s presence. I want to invest my time doing something that literally changes my countenance. I want to glow—not the glow that comes from too much time in front of my cell phone screen, but the one that comes from staring into the face of God as I read his Word and pray.

As much as I’d love smooth, porcelain skin, that desire starts to wane as I compare it to the potential for a heavenly glow that no manufactured product could create. And it’s not just Moses who got to experience this: “The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). As I read these words, my heart aches with excitement over the idea that this can be true of me—that I, too, could reflect the glory of the Lord.

The real glow is found in the presence of the Lord, so keep running back to him. Wake up each morning with him so that when you close your Bible or say “Amen,” you walk out fresh faced and ready to tackle the day.

I want my kids to notice a difference in me after I pray and read the Word, not just when I slap on a little lipstick and mascara. I want to walk away different. Spending time with God has the power to do that. I just have to apply his Word to my life.

Here’s one final encouragement as you ponder what it means to glow as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer: “Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!” (Proverbs 3:7-8, MSG).

The presence of the Lord changes us. It brings life to our aching bones and aging faces, and it can change our countenance more than any magical elixir.

ACTION STEP

Commit to meeting with the Lord each morning, even if it’s just for a few minutes, before you meet with anyone else. Let him shine on you so that you can walk out of your room or your house different than you were before.

PRAYER

Father, I want beautiful skin, but I want you more. This is my prayer: that I would clamor for time with you more than I strive to perfect my outside. The radiance that shines in me when I am in your presence is more beautiful than anything I could imagine. Help me to remember that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MORNING QUESTIONS

TAKEAWAY TODAY | Who in your life has a glow about them from spending time with Jesus?

How can you spend some time today basking in the Lord’s presence? You could put on worship music in the car or listen to Scripture while you’re running errands.

DREADING TODAY | Is there anything you’re dreading today?

REDEFINING TODAY | If so, what is another way you can view that thing you’re dreading?

ASKING GOD TODAY | What request are you bringing before the Lord today?

EVENING QUESTIONS

REFLECTION | Were there any moments today when you sensed that you had a “glow” as a result of spending time in God’s presence?

LITTLE VICTORIES | Where did you see God show up even in small ways, reminding you that you aren’t alone?

WHITE FLAG MOMENTS | When did you want to hide or escape today? It helps to recognize your toughest moments so you can figure out what’s driving you there and conquer the temptation to check out.

MEMORY OF THE DAY | What do you want to relish and thank God for?