What Happens In Me

What happens in me is more important than what happens to me. I read this statement recently, and it struck me so much that I wanted to share it with you.

For me, it addresses the question “What do I do when someone hurts me?”
“Don’t get mad, get even,” says the world.
“Turn the other cheek,” says Jesus.
“All’s fair in love and war,” says the world.
“Love your enemies,” says Jesus.
“My kid beat up your honor student,” says the world.
“Pray for those who persecute you,” says Jesus the living Christ.

People will hurt me. I cannot change that. Sometimes they will do it on purpose – sometimes by accident. I can choose to seek revenge. I can spend years litigating our dispute. I can spend hours or days or years stewing over the injustice. Or I can ask God to change my inner life.

There is only so much room in me. If I fill myself up with rage, envy, contentiousness, discord, or hatred, there is very little room left for God. I may come to church, sing the hymns, pray the prayers, listen to the sermons, but God will still seem distant. Conversely, if I am filled with the Holy Spirit, that very presence of God that can be within me, there is no room left for the harboring of old injustices.

What happens in me is more important than what happens to me. I have a choice. I can allow the events that happen to me to rule my life. Or I can allow the Holy Spirit within me to rule my life. I choose the later!

I’m not that good at it. I sometimes slip into old ways, but when I remember to make room for the Holy Spirit, that Spirit gives me the strength and courage to be a new creation. With God’s help I can be who God intended me to be.

You and I can live full of the Holy Spirit, or we can live full of bitterness. We cannot do both! Ask God today to empty you out of bitterness, envy, hatred, pettiness, or whatever it is that crowds out God’s presence in your life, and then ask God to fill you with His power and His love. May God bless you richly through the presence of His Spirit.