LIVE VICTORIOUSLY FROM INSIDE OUT

NOVEMBER 4, 2025

For which cause we faint not; but though

our outward man perish, yet the inward

man is renewed day by day

(2 Corinthians 4:16).

In 2 Corinthians 4:16, the Apostle Paul draws a sharp

contrast between the outward man and the inward

man. He says, "...though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day." He was

referring to the physical challenges and persecutions he

and his companions faced in ministry: the bruises, beatings

and hardship. Yet, in all of it, he affirmed the continual

strengthening of the inward man.

He went on to describe these trials as "light affliction"

(verse 17). It wasn't that the afflictions were naturally

light, but compared to the glory that was to be revealed,

they were insignificant. He said, "...our light affliction...

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight

of glory." This is a spiritual perspective, one only possible

when you view life through the eyes of the Spirit.

Paul shows us the principle behind such confidence:

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but

at the things which are not seen..." (verse 18). That's

profound. You can only look at unseen things through the

eyes of your spirit. And Paul tells us why this matters: "...

the things which are seen are temporal; but the things

which are not seen are eternal" (verse 18). Spiritual

things are real and permanent; they're the things that

matter.

Peter echoes this truth in 1 Peter 3:4, where he speaks

of "the hidden man of the heart," another name for the

inward man. He describes this man as possessing "the

ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of

God of great price." Though hidden, God wants this inward

man to shine outwardly, to dominate your visible life.

Let the recreated human spirit gain the ascendancy.

Let the beauty, discipline and strength of the inward man

become the ornament of your life. That's how to live

victoriously from the inside out.

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the strengthening and renewal

of my inward man. I fix my gaze on eternal realities and

live daily from the spirit. The qualities of my recreated

spirit dominate my outward life, bringing glory to your

Name, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMPC; 1 Peter 3:4;Matthew 12:35

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Hebrews 4:1-13 & Jeremiah 41-43

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 9:28-41 & 1 Chronicles 4