Inner Beauty

Conferences are tiring, to mind and body. My soul isn't tired because it was uplifted by some exceptional worship over the past 5 days, but my body is tired from traveling and my mind is racing with all of the stuff crammed into it. It's not all organized yet and maybe it's a reminder to me that I'm not as organized as I'd like to be with my life and my ministry. Things aren't the way they should be quite yet and it disrupts me on the inside.

"God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside." (1 Thess. 4:7, The Message)

This verse is both an encouragement and a prodding. It challenged me yesterday to think and pray hard for myself and for the things that I need to do in my own disordered life, to make the changes necessary for me, so that the inside can know peace. It's about making the tough decisions, saying the hard things, doing the difficult tasks because to allow them to remain only keeps the Pepto-bismal company in business. Disorder of the mind is as real and as destructive as a disordered life. It makes for restless sleep and stress filled lives.

Erwin McManus, a Pastor and author said that "90% of the time when we say we don't know what to do in situations, we simply lack the courage to do what we know we need to do." It's not an undecided mind that is restless and disordered, it's an undisciplined one! Jesus came and lived among us for several reasons: to show us the way to the Father, to open the door to the grace of God, to give us an example of a disciplined life and heart, and to give us courage to do the hard and right things.

What's on your mind? Is it seeking direction or courage? What does your heart tell you? Mine says to do what you already know to do so I can find the beauty of an ordered life on the inside. May God give us both the courage to find it.

Peace ><>
PC