You have heard this many times: “true strength comes from within”. Sometimes, this statement just annoys me! I’ll hit my shin on the edge of a stool and O! THE PAIN!!! Then my friend, who has no clue how the pain feels will just smile and say, “True strength comes from within”.
Don’t you just HATE IT when people think they have just the right answer to solve whatever mess you’re in?! Or, when they get mad at you for something without having a clue about what you’re going through? This is especially true for emotional hurts.
The truth is, you’ve been like that to a lot of people; you’d know, if only you could read minds.
Come to think of it, the only person on earth that fully understands what you’re going through is you. Many of the best solutions to your problems will come from deep down within you. There’s just one problem: you’re not the only one down there.
There’s the courageous, risk-taking, vibrant, and enthusiastic you. You also have your fears; those nay-sayers, timid about anything and everything! Then, there’s Jesus. Yes, Jesus, AND I CAN PROVE IT! Lolx.
1 John 4:4 and Philippians 4:13 give us a hint about what kind of power rests in us, and they both attribute the source of that power to Jesus.
Now, the problem is that, when people “go on a journey to the inside”, many, unintentionally, meet their fears. In meeting with their fears, they recall failures, pain, misery, lack… and then they lose all hope. This is why some people progressively get worse when left alone after a bad occurrence.
Some do find their courageous core and get motivated. The problem with that is it is short-lived. When you motivate yourself, you have to do it periodically. In no time, the thing that once kept you going no longer does. You need another goal – another reason to stay focus. This is why many motivational speakers will tell you to break all your long-term goals to short-term ones.
It is so bad that you can be convinced that the source of your motivation is Jesus; convince yourself about how Christian you are, how you can never leave the faith, how all things work together for your good… Eventually, you still need refocusing, because the strength you can draw from yourself is as limited as you are.
Many journey inward and find Jesus; the REAL CHRIST, not an imposter. This is the most amazing thing that can happen to someone. You don’t draw your strength from sentences you make up in your head or some quotes you read online – NO. Jesus speaks to you directly, or through the Bible, Ministers, your Christian friends… even a tree could help you understand some deep truth when Jesus takes control of your mind!
It is extremely important, however, to note that only those who will quiet their thoughts COMPLETELY will hear Jesus speak directly. There is no magic trick to this; you can’t force God to speak! So don’t get frustrated if you’re “doing everything rightly” and He still won’t speak to you.
In any case, the easiest way to get God to speak to you is to prove to Him that you’re interested in what He has to say. Common sense, right?
Most of what you need – to start your growth in Faith with – is contained in the Bible. If you won’t read your bible, and won’t avail yourself at Christian gatherings to hear what God has told the minister to tell his congregation; if you would rather sit at home because “God is everywhere”; if you feel that reading your Bible doesn’t make any difference because it still depends on whether or not you practice what you read; if you believe you should be “perfect” before you associate with and commit yourself to all these Christian practices; if your theory is that you’re even better than many of the hypocritical Christians that go to church… then why do you complain when God doesn’t speak? You’re clearly not taking Him more seriously than you take these minutiae!
An old Zen proverb says, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”.
Now, I could give an elaborate technique on how to “delve deeper into the centre of your presence where the Light and Truth of our universe rest”, Lolx… but why complicate an already simplified Christianity?!
Just pray: “Jesus, I need you. Teach me to love you more and obey you without any doubts or questions. Anything in me that hinders Your work, take it out. I surrender my pride and ego to you; nothing matters but You – nothing, not even my happiness. Amen.” :)
Yes, you must let it all go. An already filled cup cannot be refilled.
If you go the extra mile to find Jesus, He’ll go ten miles to reach you (James 4:8); but it starts with you.
So the next time you’re looking for someone who truly understands you, just find a quiet room (Matthew 6:6), and pour out your heart’s concerns to the Man who lives within you: Jesus.
It is from Him you will draw an infinite amount of every strength you need.
This is the true meaning of inner strength!
Don’t you just HATE IT when people think they have just the right answer to solve whatever mess you’re in?! Or, when they get mad at you for something without having a clue about what you’re going through? This is especially true for emotional hurts.
The truth is, you’ve been like that to a lot of people; you’d know, if only you could read minds.
Come to think of it, the only person on earth that fully understands what you’re going through is you. Many of the best solutions to your problems will come from deep down within you. There’s just one problem: you’re not the only one down there.
There’s the courageous, risk-taking, vibrant, and enthusiastic you. You also have your fears; those nay-sayers, timid about anything and everything! Then, there’s Jesus. Yes, Jesus, AND I CAN PROVE IT! Lolx.
1 John 4:4 and Philippians 4:13 give us a hint about what kind of power rests in us, and they both attribute the source of that power to Jesus.
Now, the problem is that, when people “go on a journey to the inside”, many, unintentionally, meet their fears. In meeting with their fears, they recall failures, pain, misery, lack… and then they lose all hope. This is why some people progressively get worse when left alone after a bad occurrence.
Some do find their courageous core and get motivated. The problem with that is it is short-lived. When you motivate yourself, you have to do it periodically. In no time, the thing that once kept you going no longer does. You need another goal – another reason to stay focus. This is why many motivational speakers will tell you to break all your long-term goals to short-term ones.
It is so bad that you can be convinced that the source of your motivation is Jesus; convince yourself about how Christian you are, how you can never leave the faith, how all things work together for your good… Eventually, you still need refocusing, because the strength you can draw from yourself is as limited as you are.
Many journey inward and find Jesus; the REAL CHRIST, not an imposter. This is the most amazing thing that can happen to someone. You don’t draw your strength from sentences you make up in your head or some quotes you read online – NO. Jesus speaks to you directly, or through the Bible, Ministers, your Christian friends… even a tree could help you understand some deep truth when Jesus takes control of your mind!
It is extremely important, however, to note that only those who will quiet their thoughts COMPLETELY will hear Jesus speak directly. There is no magic trick to this; you can’t force God to speak! So don’t get frustrated if you’re “doing everything rightly” and He still won’t speak to you.
In any case, the easiest way to get God to speak to you is to prove to Him that you’re interested in what He has to say. Common sense, right?
Most of what you need – to start your growth in Faith with – is contained in the Bible. If you won’t read your bible, and won’t avail yourself at Christian gatherings to hear what God has told the minister to tell his congregation; if you would rather sit at home because “God is everywhere”; if you feel that reading your Bible doesn’t make any difference because it still depends on whether or not you practice what you read; if you believe you should be “perfect” before you associate with and commit yourself to all these Christian practices; if your theory is that you’re even better than many of the hypocritical Christians that go to church… then why do you complain when God doesn’t speak? You’re clearly not taking Him more seriously than you take these minutiae!
An old Zen proverb says, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”.
Now, I could give an elaborate technique on how to “delve deeper into the centre of your presence where the Light and Truth of our universe rest”, Lolx… but why complicate an already simplified Christianity?!
Just pray: “Jesus, I need you. Teach me to love you more and obey you without any doubts or questions. Anything in me that hinders Your work, take it out. I surrender my pride and ego to you; nothing matters but You – nothing, not even my happiness. Amen.” :)
Yes, you must let it all go. An already filled cup cannot be refilled.
If you go the extra mile to find Jesus, He’ll go ten miles to reach you (James 4:8); but it starts with you.
So the next time you’re looking for someone who truly understands you, just find a quiet room (Matthew 6:6), and pour out your heart’s concerns to the Man who lives within you: Jesus.
It is from Him you will draw an infinite amount of every strength you need.
This is the true meaning of inner strength!