New every day...

On the outside, we're wasting, waning, failing, faltering, falling to bits and pieces if you will, but not so on the inside. Inwardly, we are renewed day by day.

I have a lot of opportunities to think about this these days. I'm definitely not a health-nut, not a bastion of self-control, so here in my forties, I'm having my share of struggles...outwardly. Sure, aches and pains, can wear on you mentally, too, but for the most part, I'm just doing better and better day after day, month after month, year after year...inwardly. I'm actually getting younger all the time.

My conviction is, so are you, whether you realize it or not. That's why Paul said the mind set on the outward reality of life is death. However, life and peace come to you when you set your mind on who you are on the inside, more specifically, on Jesus in you.

In the Old Testament, we found out His mercies were new every morning. Now that we're partakers of the divine nature, we find that we ourselves are new every morning. Just like Adam woke up in the garden one day a full grown man without a past, you and I wake up brand new every day.

I think, and my experience bears out, that the more we realize that, the better we feel, the clearer we think, and the less we ache and gripe and worry. So try to forget the gut, the knees, the condition or the circumstance, the guilt, regret or anger, the fear, worry or dread, and remember, not only is every day new, but inwardly, you also are new every day.

God Likes People

Most people seem to live with the idea that it really all comes down to behavior with God. He’s primarily irritated by people, but one day He’ll fix us so we’ll be acceptable companions for Heaven. After all, eternity would be a long time to put up with people like us.

That’s not my Dad. My Dad likes me, a lot. How is it that we can let ourselves believe that God, whom we claim is infinitely wise would also be so stupid as to create and sacrifice His Son’s life for beings that annoy Him? That, however, is the general feeling most of us seem to have about God.

Consequently, if we’re honest, we don’t like Him either, and just let me say, if you don’t like God, you don’t know Him. Truth is, however, God does like us. Think about it: He made us in His own image. Fallen or not, there’s no way we could ever not be His favorite.

What a monumental thing it has been to realize God doesn’t just tolerate me out of some virtuous pity, but that He actually likes me. He celebrates who He made me to be, who I am in every aspect. He enjoys my company immensely. He doesn’t require that I say or do anything in particular, either. He just wants to hang out with me. God likes people.

If you believe that, you’ll like God. In case you haven’t had this self-realization, I’ll go ahead and give it to you: the people you like the most are generally the ones who like you the most. We love to be liked.

Internal-God Thinking

I owe my good friend Danny a thanks for this term and for teaching me this concept. You may see a book by him on the subject before too long, but I at least want to give you my understanding of this simple and obvious, but often overlooked truth.

How much would our prayer change if we remembered that the God we pray to inhabits us? After all, we are His temples.

What would become of begging Him to change us if we recognized that in order to move into us, He had to completely re-make us? After all, He calls us new creations.

Could we pray, "Lord, come and fill our hearts today," if we truly believed that when we were joined to Him, our spirits became one with His? After all, Jesus prayed for it, and the Father listened.

What would happen to all the songs crying out for God's presence if we actually took stock of what it means to be the Temples of the Living God? After all, He said He'd never leave.

Why do we continue to see God as outside ourselves? After all, Jesus died to make a way for Him to come and live in us. Why do we keep pretending He's so far away? Are we just more comfortable with external-God thinking? I believe one of the greatest revelations we can have is often overlooked or forgotten or rejected. That is this: God lives in us.