Your Inner Man

(Prov 15:13 SMG) A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon tells us about the positive or negative effect the condition of our heart (our inner man) can have on our countenance. As a believer, having a happy countenance is very important.

Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1st Peter 3:15). While it is definitely true that every believer should be able to give an answer for the hope that they have, it is also true that no one will ever come up to ask the reason for the hope if they cannot SEE it. If all the world sees in you is problems, then they will never come to you because they already have problems. They need to see something in you that they do not have.

The world is dark and they are looking for those who will shine as light in the midst of darkness, joy in the midst of sadness, and peace in the midst of pain. Will you be that person today? If so, you must maintain the proper countenance and to do so the condition of your heart must be right.

In Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth he told the church that we are in a war that is not fought on earthly battlefields. In many ways this war is fought in our minds. The enemy wants to get us to think negative thoughts, because negative thoughts create negative images. If unchecked, those negative images can create a negative stronghold (see 2nd Cor 10:3-5).

The original Greek word Paul used, that is translated “stronghold” in our Bibles, is a word that refers to a fortified city. In Paul’s time this type of city had high walls that the enemy could not get over. Once the doors of the city were closed, no one could get in or out.

If we are not careful our negative thoughts and negative images can get us to the point where we are literally locked up in a fortified city (a stronghold) in our minds. Once we are it is hard for anything positive – the Word of God or otherwise – to get in.

This leads to depression and despair and it should definitely NOT be the case for the child of God.
But the good news is that if this is true for the negative, then it must also be true for the positive.

Godly and positive thoughts create positive images. Continuous Godly and positive thoughts and images will create a Godly stronghold. That’s why the Bible tells us (in several places) to meditate on the Word of God. If we meditate the Word long enough we will wake up one morning and realize that we are living in a fortified city in our minds; a city that no negative thought can get into.

Once we get to this point we can’t help but enter every day with a smile on our face, a spring in our step, and a song in our heart!

If you take control of your thought life and fill your heart with good things your inner man will be full of joy and peace. This is very important because the condition of your inner man will determine how well you handle difficult situations. If your inner man is built up in God, then you can handle anything the enemy brings your way.

But if your inner man is depressed and despondent, then Solomon tells us that it will be hard for you to make it through the day. Living this way is not beneficial to your Christian walk or to your health. In the 17th chapter Solomon said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (17:22). Laughter, good cheer, and joy actually add to a man's health and to the length of his life.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you MUST make the effort to take control of your thought life. To help you do so I will close with the words of Paul. Paul told us what to think about, saying,

“I’d say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (4:8).

Father, I thank You for teaching me the importance of maintaining a cheerful heart. I declare, right now, by faith, that I will meditate only on those things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, and gracious. I think on the best and not the worst, things to praise and not things to curse. I fill my mind and my heart with good things, so that I can shine as light in the midst of darkness and joy in the midst of despair. I declare that my mind is locked up in a fortified city of blessing and the enemy cannot penetrate my walls! This causes me to enter this day with a smile on my face and a song in my heart! In Jesus’ name. Amen!