Inner strength

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; - Ephesians 3.16

We may not seem like much. And, in the great scheme of things, we are not much in the outer man. Our outer strength isn't much. We can't really arm ourselves or try to impact the world in a visible and physical manner. We are never going to have a mighty army or have great political power. Our strength does not come from human power or might. 

But we have a much better source of strength. We have a strength that really matters and really makes a difference. Our inner man is strengthened for those things that are really important and that  last for eternity. While all of our human strength has weaknesses and flaws and are apt to fail our strength for the inner man cannot fail. Our strength for the inner man comes from the riches of the glory of God and can never fail. 

My problem is that I too often depend on my own frail and weak strength for the outer man instead of the all powerful strength of God that empowers the inner man. After all, we don't serve by might and we don't serve by power, but we serve by the power of God and that power strengthens us on the inside.

Right now Matt and Michelle are going through a real test. Neither has any physical strength left. Michelle's cancer and chemo and radiation and drugs and transplant have wiped her out. Matt is dealing with the girls and the travel and pressures at church. There is no strength for the battle left.

But they are full of the strength for the inner man Paul writes about. Somehow, day after day after day they find that strength to carry on. That's not because it is their strength, but because they are tapping in to the riches of God's glory for strength for the 'inner man' (or woman in this case).  

It is that inner strength that endures. Outward strength will always fail - always. Inner strength, true Holy Spirit provided inner strength, will never fail - never.