THE INWARD MAN

ROMANS 7:22 NKJ 
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 

Paul is the one who uses this phrase the most.  The inward man.  He contrasts the inward man, our spirit, with the outward man referring to our flesh.   

In his letter to the Corinthian church, he says that the outward man is perishing.  We can understand that as the aging process.  But we don't have to be discouraged, although aging is certainly not awesome, because our inward man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16).  Thank God there is a part of us not getting older and weaker but able to grow and become stronger.  We live in a world that is caught up with the outward man.  How we look, what we have etc, etc.  But it's the inward man that should be receiving the most attention. In other words, the external part of man; our outward man is aging and limited while our inward man has so much untapped potential.  So don't be discouraged if the mirror is not presenting positive news.   The part of you that is hidden, your inward man, is your most valuable asset.   

APPLICATION 

Make sure you not only take care of your outward man but that you renew your inward man as well.  Feeding on God's word, the bread of spiritual life, is one of the primary ways you can grow stronger in your inward man.   Meditating, thinking deeply and intentionally on scripture is another way to become stronger on the inside.  Of course, prayer, worship, practicing God's word and His ways are all positive means of developing the inward man.   

PRAYER 

Thank You, Father, I delight in Your word and ways in my heart, my spirit, the inward man. Thank You that I am being renewed day by day.