Life Happens On The Inside

Whenever and however my life appears to not work—my involvement with my kids isn’t smooth and working just right, my writing isn’t flowing easily and my career feels threatened, I don’t have enough speaking gigs, my financial future seems about as secure as Target Store’s database—it’s then I am often induced to barricade my heart from all who would know me and assist me.  I begin considering what work to do about myself and what image to project that offers hope of getting what I want . . . which circles back to the same problem:  “My life isn’t working!”

Nevertheless, I think:  “I’ll be more disciplined.”  “I’ll be more creative.”  “I’ll be more caring.”  “I’ll be more capable.”  All of the “more’s” that I’m going to be show that I’ve fallen under the judgment of being “less” than I think I am supposed to be—if I’m going to be any good, that is.  And no one, except One, can stand that judgment.

But when I remember that Christ in me is my life—Him—I begin to look inside, where His kingdom reigns in perfect capability.  He is the “more” I want.  Mercifully, I become more attracted to that kingdom—the one on the inside—than the one outside of me.  Peace and hope flow and surge again, and how I am in my days becomes more His concern than mine.  He is much better at “concern” and “how I am” than I am.  Have you found that to be true for you, too?

It’s through this kind of messy stuff that what the apostle Paul wrote takes on worthy meaning:  “Christ in me, the hope of glory.”  I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.  The life I live, I live not by talent, not by effort, not by managing myself and what goes on around me, but the life I live in the body—what I do is—I see to believing Him in me, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

He’s there.  He’s here, on the inside.  And that’s where “more” happens than anywhere else.

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “Life Happens On The Inside,” and is for those who might rather read than watch.  To see the video, click http://youtu.be/KxK3lwYcPjo.)