“For in my inner self, I delight in God’s law” (Romans 7:22).

Have you discovered (realized yet) that you have an inner self and an outer self? One is led by the Spirit, the other is led by the flesh. And you and I get to decide which we will follow.

Romans 7 has always been a favorite chapter of mine because of how plainly Paul talks about his struggles. It’s relatable (which can be good and bad). The lesson is that Paul shows us how to choose the Spirit over the flesh. He recognizes the conflict but doesn’t stay in it.

Renewed day by day

The inner self (or inner man) is different than the flesh (the outer self). In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul says “This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (NLT).

When Jesus made your heart His home, your inner self became inhabited with the Spirit of the Living God. This is why we never give up.

Our outer self (our body) will gradually wear out. But that’s not true of the inner self– it is renewed every day. Every new day should bring new breath, new hope, and revitalization. But notice I said should…

Where you focus makes a big difference in how you experience life. If your focus is always on the outer self, you will gradually decline (because that’s what the outer self is always doing). But if you center your attention on the inner self, God will be true to His Word and strengthen you with unfolding grace.

This is key.

Paul said, “For in my inner self, I delight in God’s law.” This is a key. His delight wasn’t in memorizing scripture (keeping God’s Word in the mental realm only). His delight was in the reality of God’s teachings that reveal God’s righteousness. In other words, he believed God’s Word to the full extent. And it gave his inner man fresh strength– not just sometimes, but all the time (every new day).

God’s Word is to our inner self like a good meal is to our outer self. It feeds us.

I’m sure you have pushed your chair back from the table after a great meal and said, “Man that was so good.” Full and content, and yet guess what? Tomorrow you will need another meal.

The same is true with your inner self. Spending time in God’s Word, reading and talking to Him about it, can feel identical. “Wow, that was so good!” And just like a natural meal, your spirit will crave more tomorrow. “For in my inner self, I want more of God.”

So be encouraged today. You don’t have to focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. The real you is your inner self. The real you is renewed every day. The real you is where your strength lies.