Inner Being

“I pray that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16 ISV)

A home requires regular maintenance and upkeep on the outside and inside. Every few years, water heaters, a/c units, plumbing, gutters, windows, roofs, carpet, appliances, furniture, etc. will have to be fixed or replaced. Sometimes we renovate our homes because they no longer fit our vision. These external changes are much more noticeable and, thus, appealing. For example, investing in a kitchen remodel feels more rewarding than spending time and energy to clean out mold in your ductwork. Some tasks can be done on our own, and other jobs might require help from an expert.

Most of us are eager to keep up our external appearances. We diet and exercise to maintain our looks. We pursue careers that will bring us wealth and respect. We adhere to societal rules in order to retain acceptability. We spend an inordinate amount of effort on the Outer Being while neglecting the Inner Being.

Our Inner Being is our true self--an intricate synthesis of our character, consciousness, and spirit--and  this Inner Being needs regular care and maintenance. A certain degree of inner work can be done by each individual. Introspection, contemplation, personal accountability, breaking harmful habits, and avoiding negative influences are within our jurisdiction. Yet, we can only do so much on our own. Eventually, we reach a point when we have to call for help from a higher power. Our inner being is empowered to its full potential only through the Spirit of God. We can pay attention to our Inner Being and notice what is broken. We may even be able to start the process of renovation, but only God can completely restore us to wholeness.