I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty
I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty:
Let Your Confidence Come from Christ
I love the musical West Side Story. One of my favorite parts is when Maria sings “I Feel Pretty” in the dressmaking factory where she works. She is dancing, twirling around in tulle, and laughing with her girlfriends. It’s obvious that she truly feels pretty. She isn’t just singing the song. When I watch that part of the movie, I ask myself the question, “What makes me feel pretty?”
Fashion makes me feel pretty. A great workout makes me feel pretty. Wearing workout clothes that are fashionable and fit me well makes me feel pretty. I feel confident, and that motivates me to give it my all. Fun fact—I recently hit a personal record on the treadmill at my Orangetheory Fitness class: 9.5 speed and 1 percent incline during a thirty-second all-out. That’s fast. If you know, you know!
When I started exercising regularly over twenty years ago, I did not feel pretty. It wasn’t just my body I didn’t like. I didn’t like myself in that season. I didn’t like fashion. I wore clothes that hid my body from myself and others, and not just when I worked out. Looking back, I am so thankful I met Jesus in that season. I learned that I was created by God. God’s creation is perfect in His eyes. When we don’t know who we are in Christ, we can’t see ourselves as God created us. Then we lack confidence. What we need most is “Godfidence,” a term I just created. I vaguely remember a figurine in our house growing up. It was a little boy and underneath the engraving read, “God doesn’t make junk!” God’s creation is always good.
I think the reason I like being fashionable now when I’m working out is because I’m an Ambassador of Christ, and I want to represent Him well wherever I am, even if it’s on the treadmill at 9.5 speed.
1. Are you in a season that you like fashion? If so, share your favorite fashion finds. If not, why do you think that is?
2. Is there a specific movie or scene in a movie that brings to mind a fashion memory? Describe its effect on you.
3. What’s your favorite piece of fashion in your closet right now? What do you like about it?
We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
(2 Corinthians 3:4–6 NLT)
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