Inside OutSample

God is in the business of renewing us from the inside out. Does He change our circumstances sometimes too? Yes, He does, sometimes. But often, He doesn’t. Often, He uses those tough circumstances to render that powerful change in us, to show us how to experience peace and joy even when what’s happening in our lives doesn’t fit with the world’s idea of what success should look like. Like it is said in Ezekiel, He gives us a new heart, a new spirit, and discards the heart of stone from us. I believe that often, this is done in the midst of difficult circumstances and moments. He stretches us which can be uncomfortable, but we are better for it in the end. When we normalize things in our mind, our subconscious leans into them. Sadly, that’s often how addictions are formed. Over time, our subconscious leads us to believe that our behavior is normal and good. Then, when the opportunity arises for us to act out, it becomes incredibly difficult to say no. Why? Because our subconscious is not based on rationality, but instead is based on repetition. What we are exposed to over and over becomes our version of “normal.” If you want to see your life changed, you have to start by filtering the things that come in contact with your mind. Invite God into every part of your thinking. Take your thoughts captive and lead them in the right direction. After years of thinking one way, we will subconsciously want to continue down the path of least resistance, the path that was leading us to labels. Yet, as we continue to rewire our thoughts and redefine our lives, we’ll begin to think and look more like God. Developing new ways of thinking and forming new neural pathways is like clearing a new path through a jungle, but once the paths are formed, our minds will naturally follow the new routes. It has been said that change comes from within. We’ve heard that from every self-help book or psychologist out there, but understand that this isn’t a new concept. This is exactly how God transforms us. He changes us from inside out, so that we may view the outside with a different lens. Through Christ, we become a new creation.