Introduction
The mystery of the inner life isn’t easy to unravel—perhaps because most think Christians already know the answer. The real challenge lies not in knowing, but in the journey from understanding to experience. I’ve written about this topic many times in my blogs, and chances are, I haven’t fully arrived myself. That’s why I’m writing about it again—this time from a hopefully fresh perspective, in the hope that both you and I might gain a deeper understanding.
So, what is the inner life? What will knowing this mystery accomplish?
“To Thine Own Self Be True” — A Call Beyond Self
In Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3, Polonius gives this oft-quoted counsel: “To thine own self be true.” But he does not stop there. He continues, “…and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” It is a poetic principle of integrity—but it raises the deeper question: What is the self to which we are called to be true? If it is the natural self, untouched by grace, then it is a shifting and deceitful ground.
Scripture Speaks with Divine Clarity
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 ESV.
To be true to that self is to cling to a broken compass.
Oswald Chambers warns of the danger in this: “The continual inner-searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simple life of a child of God.”
In our obsession with self-improvement, we risk forgetting that the Christian life is not about relentless striving, but about holy surrender.
We stand as believers, often exhausting ourselves in an endless effort to be better—as if holiness were a badge we could earn through sheer determination. But Scripture declares a deeper truth:
“It is finished” John 19:30 ESV
Christ’s atonement on the Cross is not partial; it is perfect and complete.
“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14 ESV
Why, then, do we keep trying to do what has already been done? Perhaps, in our efforts to grow, we’ve mistaken performance for piety. But sanctification is not powered by our striving—it is a work of the Spirit:
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:3 ESV
To be true to our redeemed self is to live not in introspective bondage, but in Christ-centered freedom.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV.
Here is the secret: it is not about trying to become more for God, but about being in Christ, who is everything.
In this truth, we no longer live to become worthy—we live because He is worthy. This is not a call to abandon growth, but to abandon self-dependence.
So yes, be true—not to the old self, but to the new creation:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Be true to Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Only then can we, as Shakespeare wrote, be true to all—for we are no longer false to God.
More
In my paper “Echo” I speak of “Wisdom”, the “Word” and the “Will”. The Word is the Word of God. The Will is the will of God. Wisdom is the Godly expression of His Word by our will. By this we see that the will supersedes the Word, not in power but by the fact that if we do not will the Word in your life, it becomes nil.
Consider the life of a newborn – For perfectly understandable reasons, its entire world revolves around one thing: me. Its will, its cries, its every need—demand immediate attention. “Feed me.” “Change me.” “I’m hurting—fix it.” “Make me happy.” “Hold me.” “Love me.” It screams its needs with complete expectation that the world will respond. And rightly so—without such cries, it wouldn’t survive.
[Side note: Isn’t this how we often approach God? Demanding that He fulfill His promises—for our comfort, on our terms?]
Tragically, some of us never grow past this stage. And many more of us carry this self-centeredness into adulthood, dressing it up in more “mature” behavior. But the problem remains: it’s still all about I and me. This inward focus becomes a barrier—even to the mature Christian.
Being born again is meant to initiate a radical transformation—a metamorphosis into Christlike maturity. Yet for many, that journey stalls. Somewhere along the way, we grow bored, distracted, or disillusioned. We settle into spiritual infancy, comfortable with surface growth but unwilling to press deeper.
And so, we remain stuck—trapped in the echo chamber of the Inner Self, when we were called to something far greater.
A Little Testimony
For twelve years, my wife and I shepherded a Home (Cell) Group of anywhere from 4 to 10 families. I remember on one occasion at about 1 or 2 am, I received a phone call from a lady outside my group. She was desperate. Her son was in her driveway shouting and saying he wanted commit suicide. She didn’t know what to do so she called me. Begrudgingly, I got out of worm bed, dressed, and got on my motorcycle and drove to their house. On my way to her house I remember saying to myself, “What on earth am I doing? I hardly know this lady or her son. What can I say? What can I do?”
Here is the lesson. We need to train ourselves to stop asking, how, why or what? It isn’t “I”, or “me”. I don’t need to know how. why or what. Christ in me knows the how, why and what. By His grace the evening was not a loss. But, who ministered? Me or He. I went home and continued to pray.
A Lack of Faith
When faced with challenges that push us beyond our comfort zone, it’s natural to feel uncertain. However, this is precisely when faith should be at its strongest—not in our own abilities, but in the One who guides and empowers us.
The truth is, trusting ourselves is often a compromise of faith. By relying on human ingenuity alone, we risk neglecting the divine intelligence that resides within and around us. When we prioritize our own self-reliance over trust in God, we sacrifice the power of surrender and the assurance of His presence.
In contrast, when we choose to put our faith in God, we’re not saying “I can do it,” but rather “God will enable me.” This mindset acknowledges that our abilities are finite, while God’s power is boundless. By entrusting ourselves to Him, we tap into a reservoir of strength and wisdom that surpasses human capabilities.
So, instead of pretending to be self-sufficient or self-reliant, let’s rely on the mystery of that inner life He gives us. Confront the truth about our limitations and trust in the One who is beyond all understanding. Let’s choose to rest in God’s presence, knowing that His power makes up for our weakness. In reality we have no clue how our circumstances will work out. But we have faith. Only then can we experience true freedom and surrender, not just as a practical necessity, but as a spiritual reality. It will always seem to be a risk. We must let Him change our mindset from the impossible to the possible saying, We (Christ and I) can do it.
Worry
I think one of the largest obstacles in our Christian walk is worry. This is definately a mystery of our inner self that we must overcome. Why do we worry about so many things. Look up Matthew 6:24-32, which tells of the “lilies of the field” and how the Father cares for them. We know the story—It ends with “…seek first the Kingdom” in verse 33. Then He goes on to say,
Therefore do not be anxious (Worry) about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
This is another easy thing to say but difficult thing to to. Like all else we need a renewing of our mind. He knows our needs and concerns. Place them in His hands than back off. Do not take them back simply because we don’t see immediate results. He will fix your finances. He will fix your family. He will even fix your life. When you turn these things over to Him—Back Off! Whatever happens is in His hands. Praise Him for what you have. Reward others for what they do and do not chastise them for what they did not do. If something needs fixing it and it is in your capacity to do so, fix it, no need for rhetoric toward God or anyone else. No worries. Let He who is in you flow outward to others and you will receive an inward reward. He calls this behavior – love.
In the realm of faith and trust, a lesson unfolds, a path to pursue.
“Let go of worries, let anxiety cease,
For all things belong to God’s gentle release.
When troubles arise, and fears creep in,
Remember that He holds the reins within.
He’ll fix your family, mend your life’s design,
And guide you through trials with a gentle hand divine.
Praise Him for what you have, don’t look back,
Reward those who helped, without a single lack.
Let love be your response, a flowing stream,
That radiates from within, and touches every dream.
In trust and faith, let go of the past,
And know that God’s got everything that will last.
He’ll carry you through darkness, and into the light,
Guiding you forward, with all His might.” (LCPAI)
Conclusion
No one but Jesus Christ Himself should occupy your inner life. This is the normal Christian life. Only He should flow through and outward of your very being. That is your thoughts, mouth and, actions. Salvation of the world will come through what the world sees. Our love one for another, or the short retorts and quips from our mouth and actions. Where does this start – by the renewing of our minds and by showing forth our love one for another.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:2 ESV
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 ESV
Enough Said
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
