Worship

“Resurrender” by Hillsong Worship

Scripture

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” -2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” -Ephesians 3:16-17a, ESV

“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” -Romans 7:22-23, ESV

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.” -Proverbs 20:27, ESV

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” -Psalm 51:6, ESV

Drawing Near to Christ

There was a woman by the name of Jeanne Guyon. She wrote in France during the 1600s and offended all the religious people of that day because they believed she “loved Jesus too much.” She was imprisoned for seven years because of her writings, but her book became one of the most spiritually influential books ever penned. Her writings from “Experiencing the Depths of Jesus” will shape today’s devotional as we press into the heart of Jesus and let Him fortify our innermost beings.

Let’s come boldly together before the throne of grace, asking the God of all mercy to search us and reveal to us how we are really doing—just eye to eye with Jesus, the lover of our souls and the knower of our deepest parts. He invites us to see His face of compassion and love this morning.

“While you are before the Lord, hold your heart in His presence. How? This you also do by faith. Yes, by faith you can hold your heart in the Lord’s presence. Now, waiting before Him, turn all your attention towards your spirit. Do not allow your mind to wander. If your mind begins to wander, just turn your attention back again to the inward parts of your being. … (The Lord is found only within your spirit, in the recesses of your being, in the Holy of Holies; this is where He dwells. The Lord once promised to come and make His home within you. (John 14:23) … The Lord will meet you in your spirit.” -Jeanne Guyon

Understanding Our Inner Life

Reside here. This is your inner place with the Lord that no one can take from you.

My dear friend, who is a doctor, is an expert at lab reviews. She will spend 60-120 minutes with her patients, taking a deep dive into all the levels and systems and how everything works together, or is not working, in unity. She peels back the layers of her patients’ hidden, unseen parts and gets things in order that may be off or out of sorts. Today is our day to do just that with Jesus. Draw deep with Him, and let Him love you in the process of being truly known.

“Our bodies are the physical vessels through which we experience life. Our inner person is often expressed through our bodies, and the things we experience through our physical senses impact our inner man. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have the indwelling Holy Spirit, for whom our bodies function as a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Christians are called to offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1–2). However, it is largely in the inner man that we commune with God and from which we relate with others. It is in our inner person that we experience things like love, peace, hope, and joy.” -Compelling Truth, “What is the inner man?”

The Source of Spiritual Strength

Does your innermost need fortification and tending to? Are you drawing from what has been deposited in you when you came to receive the indwelling Christ inside of you? Where we can be led by the Spirit of God, our mind, will, and emotions can take us in a different direction. Let’s redirect and get in line with the Spirit of God. This is where we can draw from the glorious riches in Christ that has been deposited in us. Christ fills us to all the fullness that He is, not withholding anything and filling every part.

Do you feel bone dry? Ask Him to fill you with His life. If you feel weary and tired, ask Him to manifest His resurrection power in you. Do you need His counsel and His love? He’s ready to pour it into you.

Christ has glorious riches (a most generous measure), which are made accessible in you with no limitations. You are worthy to receive them because He says so!

It’s not about our hard work, striving, obedience, or even our devotion; it’s the abiding fullness of Christ residing in you that wells up within you and comes forth. Frail inner beings get fortified in a moment with just one touch of Jesus—just one moment with your Savior.

“Therefore, dear reader, give all your attention to learning how to turn within and dwell in your spirit. Do not be discouraged by any difficulties you may have encountered this far. Before long, God will give you abundant grace, and all this will be easy. I would only add one admonition. You must remain faithful in humbly withdrawing your heart from outward distractions and occupations. Form the habit of continually returning to God, who is your center, with a peaceful, tender love.” -Jeanne Guyon, “Experiencing the Depths of Jesus,” emphasis added

The Promise of Christ’s Love

Do you remember the story of the blind man from my Extreme Team last spring who received God’s sight and His salvation? (You can watch the story in this video.) The man wanted Jesus so he could see again. As followers of Jesus, sometimes we lose sight. Our innermost beings get pushed back by the cares of the world and many distractions. I would emphatically declare in this hour that the Bride of Christ needs to see again. We need to see the One our hearts long for. Many are so weary and disillusioned that all they see are the storm clouds and chaos. Our innermost beings are longing to emerge with the fire of God; to burst forth living waters so destitute people can swim in the river of our inner lives with Jesus. But first, we must get low and walk into our Holy of Holies with Jesus and receive His healing. Will you look up and see His face? The Spirit spoke this to my spirit this morning:

You are My beloved. Be that today. Live and move and have your being as My beloved. You belong to Me only. I am enough for you. I will always be enough for you. Be My beloved so you can let Me love you. Focus on that from now on and nothing else.

We must learn to go here with Jesus, in quietness and trust. This is where we are transformed so that we bear fruit in and out of season. This is where we hear the voice of our Savior calling us to come out and take off our grave clothes. Our innermost beings don’t need to be buried under the rubble of the world, the flesh, our souls, or the enemy. It needs to lead us out and lead us forward. I implore you to run to your Holy of Holies with Jesus and live from this space. Both the Body of Christ and the world need you to live from this sanctified, holy, and loved place.

“Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” -Ephesians 3:17-19, ESV

This happens in your innermost being by the Spirit of God. As you make room for this truth to manifest in and through your life, the glorious measure of God will be the resource you draw from. It will transform you as you make room to let Him love you and heal you and restore you and lift your face to His. It’s yours today, if you will just come.

“If you are starving and can find nothing to satisfy your hunger, then come. Come, and you will be filled.” -Jeanne Guyon