day 621: Taking A Good Look

"For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror ad doing nothing to improve your appearance"

I am the last one to be writing about the importance of looking our best all the time, as I tend to just normally under dress for the occasion, but I am self-aware enough to know that there is a time for putting it all on, even though I may not like it. But, how we dress at work is only part of our overall self-appearance and consequently, our impact in certain situations. How we carry ourselves, the expression on our face, our energy level, our attitude, can all overshadow how we appear. The definition of our appearance is broad and something to be monitored. I have participated in too many meetings where someone doesn't get the job because the candidate didn't appear to care, or didn't appear to have their act together, or didn't appear to be disciplined, etc. So, how we show up in our appearance is important and like any time when we are trying to sell ourselves we must be able to read our audience and take into account how others may be perceiving us. When in doubt about this, ask someone you trust and then listen carefully to what they have to say. They just might tell you more than you want to hear, but still listen and make those changes.

James gives us a similar direction for our spiritual lives and tells us that if we don't listen to God's Word and direction and then obey what we have learned, then it is no different than ignoring our appearance that needs to be improved. Just as we might lose out on the job because of our appearance, we can lose out on so much more if we ignore what God has put right in front of us in His Word. As you think about your overall appearance, take a good look inside too and ensure that you aren't ignoring where God is telling you to improve. Listen and obey and God will do the rest.

Reference: James 1:23 (New Living Testament)