Inside Out Living

It is becoming more and more clearer to me that our lives need to be lived from the inside out. 

Recently I listened to a podcast for authors where I was being encouraged to write from the inside out rather than the outside in. To write from the heart rather than writing to what the current market is craving. One is genuine and authentic, not looking at the money or worldly success but sharing experiences with the motivation to restore people to wholeness in God. The other is looking at numbers of readers and dollars in the bank. It is so far easier and quicker to write to the market (outside in) but I leave my heart behind.

God works in us in the same way – from the inside out. But we seem to get stuck on trying to improve ourselves from the outside in. We look to self improvement classes, diets, , social media, popular magazines, counselling and even church to help us. None of these are bad but when they take the place of allowing God to do his full work inside, they won’t work.

• Inside Out Living Takes More Time – I get the feeling recently that God is telling me, “Rachel, there is no hurry. Here I am hurrying to get to the next thing spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. But God is gently saying, “There is no hurry in waiting for Me.” God has the perfect timetable in His Heavenly Calendar and we receive an invite to each next stage at the right appointed time.  “For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.” Habakkuk 2:3 (AMP)
• Inside Out Living Restores the Whole Person – “The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the whole person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7 (AMP) . God is interested in restoring our whole person – not just our outside but our inside too. He is concerned with our mental and emotional wellbeing and desires to bring wholeness to our soul. How? through His Words. They are perfect for the restoration job. It doesn’t matter if we think we are “simple” because His Restorative Words makes wise the simple. God can take someone who has no clues and bring them up to speed. He can take someone who no creative ideas and birth a vision inside of them that multiples. God can create wisdom from simple things.

• Inside Out Living Takes Stillness-  “Be Still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 The psalmist wrote, be still, not run, climb, row or walk but stop and wait to discover who God really is and what He wants to restore inside you.
• Inside Out Living is Fueled by the Spirit – Inside Out Living is not relying on our souls, that is our mind, will and emotions, but the Spirit of the Living God which is making His home inside our spirits. Our Inside Out Living Fuel is what is birthed from God’s Spirit – love, joy , peace, patience,  kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We don’t try to produce these from ourselves but from leaning entirely on Him.
• Inside Out Living is Real Comfort for our Souls- Where do we turn for comfort for our souls? When we have overwhelming decisions to make? When we are angry? fearful? anxious? grieving? What is our comfort in times like these? Do we look to the outside to bring peace? chocolate, pop drinks, entertainment , social media, friends? Or do we turn to the True Comforter and look Inside to the Bread of Life, the Living Water and the Prince of Peace?   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NASB)

“I encourage you to take an inventory of your inner life because it is the dwelling place of God. When he examine our inner lives, we are looking at holy ground where the Spirit of GOd waits to make His home. God is much  more interested in our inner lives than in our outer lives and we need to  be more concerned about what goes on inside us than about our external behaviour. Praise, worship and honor God in your inner life – when you “insides” are right, your “outsides” will follow.” Joyce Meyer Page 833 Everyday Bible

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