Life Happens on the Inside

Whenever and however my life appears to not be working—my involvement with people isn’t smooth, my writing isn’t flowing easily, I don’t have enough speaking gigs, my financial future is insecure—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 reveal 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 can stand that judgment.  Except One.

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” (Colossians 1:27).  As Paul wrote to the Galatian believers,  “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  The life I live, I live not by talent, not by effort, not by managing myself and what goes on around me.  The life I live in the body—what I do is—I work toward believing and knowing Him in me, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

He’s here.  He’s on the inside.  And that’s where more goes on than anywhere else, because real life happens not so much around us as it does within us.

(This is a transcript of the 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, or scroll down this blog page.)