Tag: bible

Living from the Inside Out

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As we step into a new year, many people are drawing up long lists of resolutions they hope to keep.

According to ChatGPT, the three most common New Year’s resolutions are:

1. Improve physical health : This often means exercising more, eating healthier, losing weight, or being more active overall.

2. Improve finances : Common goals include saving more money, paying off debt, sticking to a budget, or spending less.

3. Improve mental well-being: These are usually resolutions to get better sleep, reduce stress, or improve work–life balance.

Many of us can relate to one or two of these goals. And while they are all worthwhile, there is one area we must not neglect: our spiritual health.

Human beings are made up of spirit, soul, and body.

While we often attend to the needs of the soul and body, we sometimes forget that our spirit also has needs—and these needs should be prioritised.

“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?”

— Proverbs 18:14 (NKJV)

Our spirit man actually carries the rest of our being. It is the support system for both our soul and our body. When the spirit is strengthened, it sustains everything else.

We live a richer and more fulfilling life when we live from the inside out, prioritising our spiritual needs.

Jesus Himself emphasised this truth:

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

— Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Here, He highlights that while physical food is necessary, it is not sufficient. True life and sustenance come from the words that proceed from the mouth of God.

So where do we find these words?

In the place of personal fellowship with God and in the gathering of fellow believers.

So before you sign up for that annual gym membership or that healthy eating workshop, pause and ask yourself:

How can I tend to my spirit man?

How can I practically position myself to consistently receive the words that proceed from God’s mouth this year—and in the years to come?

In other words:

How do I spend even more time with God this year, both personally and corporately?

Why host Him?

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“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.”

— Luke 10:38 (NKJV)

The story of Martha and Mary is one of my favourite Bible stories because there is so much to learn from it.

In the story, Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha is busy with the work of hospitality—preparing and serving—and becomes frustrated that Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His teaching instead of helping out. Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her.

Jesus gently responds that Martha about being worried and distracted by many things, while Mary has chosen a better option which is listening to Him and that this choice will not be taken away from her.

Have you ever wondered why Martha actually invited Jesus into her house?

The answer may not be as obvious as it seems.

We can however infer from her actions in the passage that it wasn’t primarily to listen to the teaching of the word of God from Jesus. Perhaps she liked the prestige of having a mighty Man of God in her home. Perhaps her name would have been on the lips of the people of Bethany. Everyone would have praised her for “hosting the great Rabbi, Jesus” in her beautiful home.

Why do I say this? Because she placed more priority on serving rather than on fellowship with Jesus.

It’s so easy to fall into the same trap as Martha.

When last did you do a heart check?

Ask yourself, “Why do I actually go to church?”

The answer may seem obvious—until you look deeply into your heart.

If we are not careful, we can seek to be around Jesus, but not truly with Him. Martha was around Jesus, but Mary was with Him.

Many Christians like the “Christian” label and even benefit from it, yet have no real interest in Christ Himself.

Our priority should be in our fellowship with Christ and learning at His feet.

When we come to God—whether in our personal time with Him or in the place of corporate fellowship—our focus should be on Jesus Christ, while all other activities take second place.

A Counter-culture

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Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you,” – 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget that as Christians, we are called to live differently from the world.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” – Matthew 5:13 (KJV)

In the scripture above, Jesus, referring to believers, implies that we Christians are meant to bring flavour to the world around us.

But how can salt bring flavour if it blends in completely with the food? It can’t.

It’s our difference – our Christlike nature – that brings flavour to the world.

The Bible makes it clear that as citizens of God’s kingdom, we subscribe to a different way of life.

This kingdom lifestyle is clearly spelled out in the Bible.

If we don’t make an intentional effort to study God’s word and discover what He says on various life issues, we’ll end up following the way of the world, which is often the path of least resistance – the convenient path.

I encourage us today to return to the Word and discover how God expects us to live our lives. What does God say about our relationship with others, our attitude to money, our approach to work, our values, and many other issues?

As we begin to walk in the kingdom culture, we will bring the much-needed flavour to the world around us.

Jesus Prayed – Part Two

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In my last post, we saw how Jesus’ prayer life highlights the necessity of prayer. Today, let’s focus on the efficacy of prayer: if Jesus prayed, then prayer works.

As Christians, we may engage in the religious practice of prayer. Yet sometimes, deep in our hearts, a question lingers: Does our prayer even go beyond the ceiling of our room?

If prayer was only an empty religious practice, Jesus would not have bothered with it. However, He believed that prayer works. Think back to what He said at the tomb of Lazarus in the scripture below.

“And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:4)

This conviction is further seen when, as He prepared to face the greatest test of His life—Death on the cross—He went to a place of prayer to gather strength.

Therefore, if Jesus, the only son of God, prayed for things to happen in His own life while on earth, then we should take our prayer lives very seriously.

When we partner with God in prayer, we see things move in our lives and in the world around us.

Myles Munroe once said, ” Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.”

Another popular saying goes, “Where there is a man to pray, there is a God to answer.”

When we have this understanding, it places a sense of responsibility on us as God’s representatives on earth.

We begin to see ourselves as change agents for God’s kingdom in our families, in our communities, and in our nation.

Prayer becomes about manifesting God’s will on earth as Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Looking at scripture, it only takes one person who decides to engage God in prayer to change a nation. The scriptures are filled with numerous examples of men and women who engaged God in prayer and enforced His will on earth.

The Bible says, ” Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” James 5:17 (BSB)

We also learn of Daniel, who realised that according to prophecy, it was time for the Israelites to be released from captivity, yet nothing was happening. So what did he do? He set his “face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3, KJV)

In summary, prayer is a powerful weapon in the hands of a yielded vessel. So, I challenge you: Decide today how you will use prayer to impact your world.