The Lord’s Beauty Salon

Friday, October 10, 2006  From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Psalm 147:1 – “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming”

Jack Hayford says, “If you want to become a handsome or a beautiful person, praise the Lord!””

You may know people who have lived in the presence of the Lord so long and who love Him so much, that they prove the truth of the above Psalm.  Their very demeanor speaks of the beauty of holiness.  Psalm 115:8 and 135:18 say that those who worship idols “are like them,” but the same is true of we who steadfastly look into the face of His countenance and He is mirrored in ours – His grace is fashioning us into gracious people.  His beauty transforming our countenance.

The inner beauty of Christ Himself begins to shine.  As we are forgiven and loved by Him, our pinched and anguished faces relax in God’s peace.  Our countenance begins to glow, caught up in praise, we worship in the beauty of Holiness. We have indeed been given beauty in place of ashes  (Is 61:3)

Beautiful Savior, I love to gaze upon You and to feel Your love becoming as part of who I am.  I honor You above all beautiful things in heaven and on earth, just for who You are, and for Your power to touch sordid lives and transform them into beautiful people.  I praise You.