Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

I didn't get to see the Miss America contest this year.

Now that I think about it, I haven't seen the Miss America contest for quite a few years. That's probably because these contests frustrate me. You see, every time I pick a winner -- a young lady who is absolutely guaranteed to win -- they lose.

So, even though my interest in the Miss America contest is somewhat underwhelming, the papers have shared that Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron, is the nation's Miss of the hour. Looking at her pictures; it does seem she has the facial symmetry, the youthfulness, the figure, and the smarts which make for a first-class winner.

The article in the newspaper got me to thinking. In a few short words I had been told what it takes to make a woman a "winner" in the eyes of men. What I wanted to know was this: what would it take for a lady to be a winner in the eyes of God?

Since the Lord sees things differently than we do, I'm pretty sure He would zero in on qualities which we, all too often, ignore.

It didn't take too much searching before I came upon the passage from Proverbs which serves as the text for today's devotion. It reads: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Evaluating that passage we can quickly see that while humankind looks at the temporal and the external, the Lord looks at a woman's internal qualities. It says the Lord values and appreciates the woman who honors, respects, and trusts Him.

To find a lady who respects the Lord . . . it's not the kind of show networks would televise, and it's not the kind of contest that inspires big-time sponsors. Even so, I've seen some of these ladies who honor the Lord and, in my opinion . . .

. . . they need to be honored for they are most beautiful indeed.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is easy for us to look upon the externals of a person, to evaluate their worth on temporal and passing things. Help us see others as You do. Let us, as much as we are able, seek to recognize and honor those lasting spiritual qualities which the Holy Spirit bestows. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 23-24    Matthew 28

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