Being a female in today's world stinks, to be honest. You are constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations on how to look, how to dress, what to say, what to do... the list goes on. You see magazines with women who are probably not even close to your size all glammed up, and headlines screaming, "This is how you're supposed to look!!". Articles are splashed all over with talking points on how to win over that cute guy you like, or how to talk properly in an interview. I'll admit that I even fall victim to what the world says is the right thing to do as a woman, every one does.

What I sometimes forget to acknowledge is that what the world is telling you is not what you should be focusing on. God has so much more planned for you than you could ever imagine. He doesn't care that you spent 3 hours on your hair and makeup for church, or that you're still single in a pool of people your age already getting hitched and having kids. He doesn't care that you're not as thin as the women in magazines. He cares about you for who you are. He loves you in a way that you can't find in someone or something. In church this past Sunday, our pastor was listing things that we find ourselves filling that void where the Lord should be: money, cars, relationships, etc. We should never forget the wonder and beauty and overwhelming love that God has in our lives.

I was doing my devotional today, and this verse really made all of this clear to me. Ephesians 2:10 says that,

In my devotions, I read that workmanship in Greek is poiema, and that's where we get the word poem. When you think about a poem, you think about how carefully crafted each word is before it is put together into one perfect sonnet. That's how God has our lives planned. He created you in His image, carefully and full of love, and it all blends together beautifully. Whenever you read a regular poem, sometimes you can appreciate its beauty, sometimes not. God wants us to show others what great things He can do for them, for us to show them the poem He has written for us. There will be naysayers, but there will be people who will appreciate that poem and will want what you have. 

However, before you can go and show others the poem God has written for you, it is important that you love the poem first. God has so much in store for your life, and whenever you aren't appreciating what He has in store for you, it most likely upsets Him. If you let the things of this world, the things that Satan whispers in your ear about you not being good enough for anything, take over your life, you'll forget about what a wonderful, graceful Savior and Lord you have. 

That's just Satan's trick: for you to forget about Him and get yourself lost in the desires of this world. Don't let that happen! Whenever you start to feel that way, read through Psalms 139. Don't lose sight on the poem God has written for you. Don't ever forget that no matter what this world may tell you, the only true way to find happiness is through Christ. And when you find it, let others know, so that way they, too, will find that peace and love and grace that everyone else is still searching for.

Yours truly,

Leighan