Strenghtened

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
STRENGHTENED
Eph 3:16-17
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
NIV
That is surely one of my needs. To be strengthened within my inner being. My inner being is where most if not all my weakness lies. If I say to myself I am strong there, than I am just lying to myself and I do not see the truth. If I say to myself I can overcome those areas which plague me the most, I do not see clearly, but in a fog. I need the power through his Spirit to overcome those areas of my inner being which push me in thoughts, words and deeds I should not have in my life. I know I will never gain perfection, but can I use that as an excuse? I think not. I should not seek justification for those failures because I am a mere man. No, I cannot make excuses because I am only human. That would be making a provision for my flesh which I am told not to do by his Word. No, I have to admit and ask forgiveness when I fail and seek his righteousness. I must look to him for the power to strengthen my inner being, because I do have Christ dwelling in my heart. That seems so contrary to everything. How can I have his power through the Spirit and have Christ dwelling in my heart, my inner being and still fail him in so many different ways? Oh sure I am not this great sinner, this awful person who commits murder, or steals from others. True I do not run around as a wild heathen, brawling and committing other acts of violence. It is also true I do not chase after the things of this world, fame and fortune. For the most part I act in a manner that is fitting for a believer in Christ. But it is that inner being which poses the greatest threat to my relationship with Christ. This is where I need him. And I know he is there working in my life, helping me, strengthening me, so that I can and am gaining greater strength to overcome. I am forever thankful for what he has done for me, in me and is doing through me. But most of all I am thankful he has strengthened me.