Begin On the Inside

Begin On the Inside

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…  (Ephesians 3:16)

Paul not only preaches to the Ephesians. He also prays for them. His prayer which is recorded in this passage is that they are strengthened with the might of the Holy Spirit and that this strength be targeted at the inner man.

Notice, he does not ask for abs of steel. He does not request bulging biceps. He does not seek thighs of iron. He prays that God would strengthen their inner man. The inner man is the invisible person underneath the one everyone sees. The inner man is the one who motivates every move. The inner man is the one who holds every belief. The inner man is the one who carries the character. The inner man pulsates with passion. The inner man stores and applies knowledge. The inner man senses and sends forth love. The very natural process of physical growth almost guarantees a certain level of growth in the outer person. Food, age, exercise, time and hormones take care of that. However, the greater and more significant growth in us is the maturity which takes place inside of us. This growth in character, honesty, integrity, fortitude and faith needs more than hormones; it requires the Holy Ghost.

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