LIVE FROM “INSIDE OUT!”
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
In Matthew 12:33-35, the Lord Jesus used the allegory of a tree to teach that it’s the character of a man’s spirit that really matters; it’s what you’ve got in your spirit that counts. He said, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
The character of your spirit is the character of your life. This is the reason any change you want to see on the outside must be initiated from your spirit; you must work from inside out. At the beginning of the year like this, many make “new year resolutions,” promising themselves to start doing certain good things, or put away certain unwholesome habits. Some have a goal to improve themselves spiritually; they want to get more organized, give more attention to the diligent study of the Word and prayer. Some others want to make improvements in their career, education or lifestyle.
However, many get frustrated along the way, because only three months into the year, they’re back to what they used to be; unable to make any meaningful or lasting change. The reason is simple: they were trying to work from the “outside-in,” instead of working from the “inside-out.” The things that happen in your life come from your spirit and not from around you. Man is a spirit, hence it’s important you learn to live from your spirit and bring forth good things out of the good treasures of your heart.
Real success is from the human spirit. Until and unless your spirit is conditioned to go in the direction of the Word, and the Spirit of God, true success will elude you. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”; your spirit is a reservoir of good things. Therefore, give attention to the cultivation of your spirit by learning and meditating on God’s Word.
When you allow God’s Word to dwell in you richly, you’d bring forth success, divine health, prosperity, progress, victory, and promotion from within you.
Further Study:
Proverbs 4:20-22;
Matthew 12:35