There were 234,374 total facelifts in the US in 2020, but many more gracelifts. The intent of the first is to look younger, improve self-esteem, and make lifestyle changes with 92 percent of that total being women. The average cost is $8,005. 1 Gracelifts are free. We will consider them shortly.
Many US women have appearance-based self-esteem. By facelifts and other cosmetic procedures, they will pay a lot to reenter the realm of “respectability.” Eventually, age plucks every cherry from their tree of physical beauty. Appearance is an insecure foundation for self-worth.
Someone suggested women go to extreme beauty enhancement measures because men in the US can see much better than they think! Many men don’t realize marrying for appearance is like buying a house for its paint job.
People who overvalue physical beauty are like companies hiring employees based on their physical attractiveness instead of their abilities and experience. A facelift mentality focuses on the unimportant and fleeting rather than the crucial and eternal.
So, what matters? What is timeless? Look no further than the gracelift of the first paragraph.
Everyone can afford a gracelift. Since it is rooted in God’s undeserved favor, we can leave our wallets at home.
“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe” (Romans 4:16 NLT).
Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). Grace lifts us free from the penalty of our sins, but it is not a one-trick pony. It is the Swiss Army knife of whatever we need. God distributes it as we follow His Son.
Following Jesus is the only path on which gracelift is available. That is our gracelift ticket.
Here is how I pray the King James version of 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you [physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, mentally, relationally, financially, and vocationally]; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
Praying it this way floods my soul with God’s peace. I trust that God’s grace will be enough for whatever comes my way.
It is usually the first thing I pray before I get out of bed in the morning. I pray it again when I eat breakfast.
God’s grace conforms to my needs and provides sufficiency in all things. That prayer is my peace button whenever the slightest anxiety stresses my heart. It is my gracelift.
Should we ask for God's grace? Of course. Are you in a position to receive God’s all-sufficient grace? Are you following Jesus? Have you had your gracelift today? #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 6,999 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness
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