~~From Daughterhood by Design issue 1, 2008 “The King’s daughter is all glorious within…” Psalm 45:13. While I was growing up, I loved to read books and pick out the qualities I liked in the characters (I still love doing that). Sometimes as I read, I was fascinated by the qualities I found--girls that were unassuming and gracious, were models of faith and fortitude, who radiated femininity and grace, and whose very presence breathed of poise and dignity! For some time, I dismissed the qualities as idealistic--I didn’t see many people who could be described by these words any more! And after trying for some time to be such myself, (and miserably failing, for I was a great “tomboy”), I concluded that those qualities were a thing of the past. But somehow through the months and years that followed, the model of beautiful girlhood stuck in my mind and followed me wherever I went; somehow it must be possible to attain. Then God mercifully brought some individuals into my life that, while not at all perfect, were striving for this model. This gave me hope that it could be done. On October 10, 2006, I wrote in my journal: I admire [these particular individuals] greatly. I admire them because in their family I see the qualities of days gone by--qualities that I’ve loved for as long as I can remember, but just as long, qualities I’ve sadly lacked! I want them, [the qualities] very much, but it’s a shot in the dark at a far away target trying to become a ‘real girl.' I had reached my limit. I had tried for years to be gracious, unassuming, feminine, graceful, and dignified, and found that it wasn’t possible--on my own. But since that time in 2006 when I realized the standard was possible to attain, but not on my own, God has lead me on a journey that has opened my eyes to the truth about inner beauty. Without it, outward excellence will never last long. So, just how do we attain inner beauty? Or, more simply, what is inner beauty? It all boils down to one thing: what is in our hearts? Our outward behavior is a good indication of our heart condition; that’s why when I was a tomboy I could never manage to have poise, dignity, or grace! Jesus says in Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” What fruit are we bearing? Is it the fruit of the Spirit? When I was a tomboy, I naturally was boisterous, reckless, and careless. What does that say about the condition of my heart? As an excellent Christian writer for girls once said, “A woman’s excellence and influence lie in the heart; and no outward accomplishments can compensate for the want of a good heart.”* No matter what we do, how pretty we are, how nice our figure is, or how charismatic a personality we may have, nothing can compensate for the lack of a good heart. And if we do have a good heart, it doesn’t matter how plain our features or figures, or how naturally uninteresting our personalities, we will be respected of men and beloved of God. “Whose adorning…let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible…which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3-4). A good heart will be an adorning to us, making us beautiful; and above all, we will be highly treasured by God. But how do we get a good heart? Ezekiel 36:26 says “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” It’s that simple! All we have to do is ask! James 4:2b says “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” We don’t have new hearts because we don’t ask for them. We must go to God believing that when He says He will give us new hearts He means just that. Once we’ve gone to God and asked Him for a new heart, we must go forward in faith believing that He’s given it to us. We say we believe in a creationary God. But so often we treat Him as if He was an evolutionary God! We say we believe He spoke our world into existence. But when it comes to a new heart, or a change in our character, we act as if it’s going to take Him millions of years to create it! No; we must ask, and then believe that when He speaks, it is done; when He commands, it stands fast; and that He stands behind every promise He makes to change us and give us blessings. Now comes the exciting part! When we have a new heart, good fruit comes naturally! Remember what Jesus says in John 15:8: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” He loves to help us bear much fruit; it brings great glory to Him! In our lives will appear love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. And when we have those fruits we will become unassuming and gracious, filled with faith and fortitude, models of femininity and grace, radiating poise and dignity! Now for just one word of warning: We are going to have to ask for a new heart many, many, many times. And we are going to fail many times. But when we fall, we must arise, ask for forgiveness and a new heart, and go forward. And while God is the only one who can change us, we must accept the change. For instance, if we ask Him to make us loving, when we get up off our knees we must make the choice to love, and then choose to put that love into action. We can’t just try, we must choose. When we follow this course by God’s grace, we will have inner beauty radiating out of us. We won’t have to try to be unassuming and gracious, feminine and graceful--it will come as the simple outworking of God’s love in our hearts. As daughters of our Heavenly King, we will be “all glorious within.” *Harvey Newcomb, How to be a Lady: A Book for Girls, 8th ed.(Boston: Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln, 1850). ~Natasha Nebblett, age 17, is the younger sister of Chanteé. She is an active part of both her family's ministry and home life. She and her sister live with their parents and two brothers in New Mexico. Click here to visit Daughterhood by Design!