As a young Christian, I dedicated myself to living a healthy lifestyle. I spent hours at the gym, carefully planned my meals, and made sure to get enough rest each night. However, despite my efforts, I felt something was missing inside.
One day, as I was reading the Bible, the words from 1 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV) leapt off the page:
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
It was then that I realized I had been neglecting the spiritual aspect of my life—the inner man.
I began to notice the signs of a weak inner man. I struggled to resist temptation. I lacked the power to share my faith. I felt disconnected from God during prayer and Bible study.
I felt detached, as though I was going through the motions, lacking any genuine connection to the Lord.
To strengthen my spiritual life, I turned to Ephesians 3:16. There, the Apostle Paul prayed for believers. He asked that they be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”
I soon realized that true inner strength could only come from the Holy Spirit’s work within me.
With a new purpose, I set out to nurture my inner man. I sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the wisdom of fellow believers.
I discovered five practical steps. They helped me grow closer to God and change inside.
Key Takeaways on Strengthening the Inner Man
- The inner man refers to our spiritual side that needs strengthening.
- Feed on God’s Word to renew and transform the inner person.
- A life of prayer brings intimate communion with God that revives the inner man.
- Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit will energize you inwardly.
- Christian fellowship promotes growth as you share and live out your faith together.
- Resisting worldly influences helps strengthen your inner man to obey Christ.
- You must practice consistent spiritual disciplines to build up the inward man.
- The result is a vibrant walk with Jesus that overflows into every area of life.
1. Feed on God’s Word
Ephesians 3:16 says that you strengthen the inner man when you allow Christ to live in your heart by faith.
“14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height.” – Ephesians 3:14–18 (NKJV)
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17, NKJV). By feeding on scripture, you let Christ’s truth fill your soul. The Word renews your mind and transforms you.
The Bible compares scripture to food that nourishes your spirit.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” – 1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV)
Just as healthy foods promote physical strength, God’s Word brings vitality to the inner man. Here are some practical tips for feeding on the Word:
- Read the Bible daily. Set aside time to read Scripture, starting with small, achievable goals.
- Meditate on verses. Don’t rush through your reading; pause to reflect and chew on the Word.
- Study with focus. Dig deeper into passages using study Bibles, commentaries, sermons, etc.
- Memorize key verses. Store foundational Scriptures in your mind and heart.
- Apply the Word. Obey what you read in the Bible; don’t just gain information. Allow the Scriptures to shape your life.
As you regularly feed your spirit with the Bread of Life, God’s Word, you’ll gain spiritual strength in the inner man.
2. Cultivate a Life of Prayer
Prayer goes hand in hand with God’s Word for strengthening the inner man. In Ephesians 3:16, Paul prays that the Spirit would empower believers. Our prayers unleash the Spirit’s empowering work in our inner man.
Through prayer, we experience intimate communion with God. As we bask in His presence, He renews our inner man. We also gain spiritual power as we call upon the Lord.
Romans 7:22 speaks of the inner man delighting in God’s law. Prayerful meditation on Scripture causes God’s Word to delight our inward parts.
Here are some suggestions for cultivating a strong prayer life:
- Pray continuously. Develop the habit of conversing with God throughout your day.
- Daily quiet time. Set aside a part of your day to read the Word and pray.
- Pray God’s Word. Speak Scripture back to the Lord to align your heart with His.
- Listen. Practice being still and allow God to speak to you.
- Pray with others. Join other believers and pray together.
Consistent prayer will renew and empower your inner self. Charles Spurgeon says,
“Prayer pulls the rope below, and the great bell rings above in God’s ears.”
Keep pulling the rope in prayer!
3. Walk in the Holy Spirit
The strengthening Paul describes in Ephesians 3:16 comes through the Holy Spirit. It is His mighty power that energizes us inwardly.
Our part is to walk in, be filled with, and be led by the Spirit each day. As you yield control of your life to Him, the Spirit produces spiritual fruit in your inner man.
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit will also lead you into truth through the Scriptures. Jesus said the Spirit of truth will guide us in all truth, taking what is Christ’s and revealing it to us (John 16:13-15). As you follow His leading, He will strengthen your inner man.
Here are some ways you can walk in the power of the Spirit daily:
- Begin each morning by surrendering control to the Holy Spirit.
- Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and insights.
- Obey as He guides you into truth and righteous living.
- Yield your mind and thoughts over to Him.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to empower your words and actions.
Walking in step with the Holy Spirit will revive and energize your inner man. You will experience the abundant Christian life within (John 10:10).
4. Fellowship with Other Believers
Another essential for strengthening the inner man is Christian fellowship. We grow spiritually through the act of sharing and living out our faith with other believers.
Their encouragement strengthens us to live with full commitment to Christ amidst opposition. We gain wisdom by the sharing of Scriptures. And their prayers empower us. Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) states,
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].”
The New Testament believers had a close-knit fellowship that promoted spiritual growth.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)
Here are some ways to experience strength in fellowship:
- Attend church regularly for worship, teaching, and community.
- Join a small Bible study group for fellowship, accountability, and prayer.
- Meet frequently with a spiritual mentor or godly friend.
- Find a prayer partner to engage in regular prayer to God.
- Serve in unity with other believers in ministry.
Don’t neglect the blessing of Christian fellowship. It renews the inner man through joint prayer, mutual faith, and the working of Christ’s Spirit in our midst.
5. Resist the World’s Influence
While you may want to engage in culture, you must also resist the sinful value system of this world as a believer. If you let worldly values shape your mind, it will weaken your inner self, not strengthen it. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) exhorts us:
“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.”
Here are some practical ways you can resist the influences of the world:
- Be aware of how entertainment and media affect your attitude and thinking. Set standards for what you watch/listen to.
- Limit time spent on social media if it stirs covetousness or immoral thoughts.
- Be careful of the company you keep. Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33, NLT).
- Ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize your conscience to sin and compromise.
- Renew your mind daily in God’s Word – don’t adopt the world’s mindset (Romans 12:2, NLT).
- Pray for moral courage to take a stand for righteousness and truth.
As you resist the world’s mold, your mind and spirit grow strong. You are now free to completely devote yourself to following Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the inner man/inward man?
A. The inner man (or inward man) refers to your spirit. It is your soul, as opposed to your physical body. It is the part of your being that can commune with God and needs to be strengthened.
Q. How do I know if my inner man is weak?
A. Signs of a weak inner man include: 1. Struggling to resist temptation. 2. A lack of spiritual power in ministry. 3. Difficulty persevering in prayer. The Word will seem dry or ineffective. Also, you may be strongly influenced by worldly values.
Q. I’m too busy to read the Bible and pray every day. How can I still strengthen my inner man?
A. Spiritual practices, like reading scripture and prayer, are vital for the inner man. Without them, your spirit will suffer from malnourishment and weakness. Purpose to make time with God a priority right where you are. Even starting small will help strengthen your spirit.
Q: How long does it take to strengthen the inner man?
A. There is no quick fix to strengthening the inward man. It requires consistency in the spiritual disciplines to see lasting growth. Different believers will progress at different paces. The key is to stay faithful over time to God’s Word, prayer, the Spirit’s leading, and Christian fellowship.
Q. Can my inner man be harmed or damaged?
A. Yes, sinful choices and persistent worldly influence can defile our inner man. Wrong associations and secular media corrode the spirit. Addictions and secret vices also weaken our inward vitality. But the good news is God can restore and renew your inner self as you repent and maintain a steady walk with Him.
