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Strengthened in the Inner Person – Love Beyond Measure · Still, Here

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: This is still here.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A quiet moment to remember what is true.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to these words from the book of Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 through 17.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that we would grant you according
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: to the riches of his glory That you may be strengthened with power
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: through His Spirit in the inner person.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: You can appear strong while becoming depleted inside.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: You keep functioning.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: You care for people.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Solve problems.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: Complete responsibilities.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: And answer the familiar question with, I'm fine.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: The outer life remains capable while the inner person spends increasing amounts
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: of energy maintaining the appearance.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: The small ruler says, I must appear strong and hold myself together.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Paul bows in prayer and asks God to strengthen believers through the spirit in the inner person.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: The inner person is the soul beneath your public role.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: It is the center from which you interpret life.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: The place where identity, desire, courage, trust, and loving presence take form.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: When that center is depleted,
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: outer competence can become a mask rather than an expression of genuine strength.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: The world often teaches us that appearing unaffected is strength.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: We learn to act as though problems do not touch us.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: The needs of others never become heavy.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: And the responsibilities we carry cost us nothing.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yet forced strength depends on the limits of our own ability.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: It requires constant bracing.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: The more energy we spend protecting the image,
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: the less remains for honest presence, creativity, compassion, and joy.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: The spirit strengthens differently.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: Shame and pressure push us from the outside.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: God's strength rises within an invitation into more life than self-sufficiency can give.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Christ dwells within you in places deeper than your conscious awareness.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: His presence does not depend on your ability to feel spiritually strong.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: Even when your thoughts are scattered or your emotions are tired,
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: grace is still working beneath the surface.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: As relationship with Christ grows,
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: You may notice desires,
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: insights,
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: courage and movements of compassion that you could not have produced
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: by determination alone.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: His presence becomes a calm center beneath the demands around you.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: This strength does not make you invulnerable.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: It makes you more able to remain loving, truthful and present.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: You can acknowledge weariness without becoming defined by it.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: You can receive help without believing you have failed.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: You can set a boundary without abandoning love.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: You can admit that something hurts without surrendering your hope.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Think of a tree whose roots reached an underground river.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: The branches still feel the wind.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: The leaves still endure the heat.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: The tree is not protected from every difficult season.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: It survives because life is being received beneath the surface.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: You may have become accustomed to drawing strength only from what others can see,
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: discipline, knowledge, productivity, composure, or endurance.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: Those capacities have value.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: They were never meant to become the hidden source of your life.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: The spirit is strengthening the soul beneath your visible life.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: You can soften the places that are bracing.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: You can tell the truth about what has grown tired.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: You can allow receiving to replace effort for one quiet moment.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: Christ is dwelling within you.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: The hidden source remains.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Take a moment for this prayer of presence.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Father, you see the soul beneath every role I carry.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: I release the facade of being untouched and self-sufficient.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Christ is dwelling within me more deeply than I can perceive,
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: and your Spirit is strengthening what has grown tired.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: Help me receive support, honor my limits, and remain rooted in truth.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: I receive the calm strength that helps me remain loving
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: As you rise from this quiet moment, carry this prayer with you.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: I release forced strength.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: Christ strengthens me within.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: I release forced strength.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Christ strengthens me within.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: I release forced strength.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: Christ strengthens me within.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, stay steady, stay open, stay present.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: You are still here.