Ladies, It's Your Glory

By: Ande Johnson

“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: …”
                                                                                                                - 1 Corinthians 11:15a 

Introduction: 
“My hair is so ugly!” cried the young girl as she was talking to her Mother. 
“I am the ugliest girl in the world. My hair is frizzy. It refuses to grow, and I have split ends galore!” 
Her mother listened to her as she went on about her appearance. She was sad to hear her daughter so unhappy with herself. Her Mother stopped her by asking her this question, 
“Do you think that God makes mistakes?” 
The girl was startled “No Mom, God doesn’t make mistakes.”  Then her mother asked another, “Does the Bible say He makes ALL things beautiful?”  The girl thought for a moment and replied “Yes, it does” Her Mother smiled “He made you, didn’t He?”  
The girl realized what her mom was saying. Her Mom continued “He made you beautiful Honey. He wants you to take care of yourself, so let’s see what we can do to help your hair.” With a warm embrace they, together, began the process of taking care of their glory.

There is Spiritual, physical and practical aspect to our hair. It is a serious thing to God and it should be a serious thing to His children.

“…because God designed nature to give women long hair to distinguish her sex it is not a sign of shame to her, but rather a sign of glory to her for it increases her femininity and womanliness.”
                                                                  ~Bro. Jayme Carter    

FACT: Did you know that statistically women that have longer and/or well-kept hair get more compliments than those with shortly cut or bobbed hair?

1) A Lady’s Adversary - The devil knows that the hair is a very spiritual matter and will try to trap you unaware. He sets snares for you to fall in. We as young ladies need to be aware of our weaknesses. 

• The Fad & Fashion – The fad of the world is to have the coolest and latest style or cut for your hair. There is a seductive spirit behind a lot of the hairstyles that the world presents.
  

FACT: Some women in the world do their hair in a sensual way to get a man’s attention.

We, as young women of God, need to beware of the trends of the world, and be cautious of the way we do our hair; Being careful with the reasons why we do our hair certain ways.  Be sure you have the right motives.


2) A Lady’s Advantage - We are NOT men! We ARE women.

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” 
                                                                                                               - 1 Corinthians 11:14 

FACT: Men are more likely to go bald when they get older than women. 

It is true that God beholds our inner beauty, inner motives, inner thoughts and dreams, but man has nowhere else to look but on the outward appearance! Remember that.
Then, if a woman has those marvelous inner qualities that are of God, the man will see the shining reflection of God." 
                                                                                                       ~Joyce Landorf

FACT: Did you know that one of the first things a guy will notice about a girl is how she takes care of herself, specifically her hair.

Ladies, God has given us a gracefulness and beauty that He designed. Let us be sure to walk pleasing in HIS sight and He will direct our path.

3) A Lady’s Awesomeness

• We are Beautiful!  We have the ability to glorify God by taking care of ourselves. When we take care of ourselves others notice us. If we have a beautiful spirit it will show on the outside.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's”. 
                                                                                                            - 1 Corinthians 6:20

• Biblical Example: Mary’s Fragrance.

“And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."                                                                                                             -  Luke 7:38 
 “I can imagine that even after the Saviour was crucified, this woman, saved from a life of sin, would brush her long hair happily and remember that with it she had had the joy of wiping the feet of the Saviour the day her sins were forgiven.”
                                                                                                         ~John R. Rice “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”                                                                                                        - John 12:3 

She no doubt had long beautiful and healthy hair to be able to wipe Jesus’ feet with it. What an honor!  Imagine with me the beautiful smell that her hair would have had when she left that place.

• Our desire should be to use our glory to glorify God. 

What type of fragrance do others experience when you walk into a room? 
                                                                                                             
Suggested Reading
1.       “Proverbs 31” KJV Bible
2.       “The Hype About Hair” by Rev. Jayme Carter
3.       “Becoming a Women of Beauty and Strength” by Elizabeth George

“Reputation vs. Character”
The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation;
The truth you believe determines your character.
Reputation is what you are supposed to be;
Character is what you are.
Reputation is the photograph; 
Character is the face.
Reputation comes over one from without;
Character comes from within. 
Reputation is what you have when you come into a new community;
Character is what you have when you go away.
Your reputation is learned in an hour;
Your character does not come to light for a year.
Reputation is made in a moment;
Character is built in a lifetime.
Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone;
Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.
~Author unknown