“What our life amounts to, at least for those who reach full age, is largely, if not entirely, a matter of what we become within.”

A thought by Dallas Willard (2014-02-01) from his book, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ (p. 16). NavPress. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I’m even getting a greater awareness of that even with my being a retired Pastor.  I jokingly say to people, “I used to be paid to be good, now I’m good for nothing.”  But the reality is I am good because of what God is doing inside of me.  And in another sense, and I will be less than good and even bad because of what I am doing inside of me.  The key is, who is in control inside of me and who is God in my life, Him or me.

Dallas continues, “Within are our thoughts, feelings, intentions— and their deeper sources, whatever those may be. The life we live out in our moments, hours, days, and years wells up from a hidden depth. What is in our ‘heart’ matters more than anything else for who we become and what becomes of us. ‘You’re here in my arms,’ the old song says, ‘but where is your heart?’ That is what really matters, not just for individual relationships, but also for life as a whole.”

He then shares, “Our ‘within’ is astonishingly complex and subtle— even devious. It takes on a life of its own. Only God knows our depths, who we are, and what we would do. Thus the psalmist cries out for God’s help in dealing with— himself! ‘Search me, O God.’ ‘Let the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you.’ ‘Renew in me a right spirit.’”

That is my cry today and I pray that it will be yours. 

Will you reach out to Him?