Terri Fraracci
Most of us live our lives from the outside in. Live from the inside out!
Terri Fraracci
There are many passages in the bible that tell us to 'be not of this world'. Romans 12:2 says, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Jesus said that he was not of this world: "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." - John 18:36. He also said, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:20-21.
But just what does that mean? Does it mean that you should turn your back on the world? Does it mean that you were given this earthly life only to be told not to live it? How do you live in this world without being of this world?
The answer is to live from the inside out. Most of us live from the outside in. We are happy if the weather is good, we got a raise, the kids are behaving, we have fallen in love, or the day is just going well. We are unhappy if the boss is not nice, the husband bought yet another frivolous gadget, our hair won't cooperate, someone was critical. When we live from the outside in, how we feel inside is based on what is going on on the outside; in the world.
Living from the inside out gives us a life free of being yanked back and forth by circumstance, the will of others, and life occurrences beyond our control because when we live from the inside out, how we feel about the outside world is based on what is going on within. Living from the inside out doesn't mean that you ignore life; it means that your joy and peace are not dependent on how a day or a situation is going, but rather on the constant assurance that the kingdom resides within you. It means that you accept the ways of the world as the ways of the world; not your personal spiritual barometer.
Allow yourself to be transformed through the renewing of your mind. Take what is inside out; sharing your peace, joy, love, and true spirit with others. You do not have to turn your back on the world. All you have to do is turn yourself around. Stop basing your happiness on what is happening in your life because nothing here lasts or stays the same. Base your happiness on the everlasting gift of the Kingdom of God; which resides within you. Live your life from the inside out.
