How do I invest in my spirit? How do I live more wisely from the heart of my being?

Throughout the Bible we are reminded of the call to pay attention to our inner life. Consider the surprise of David's family when David was anointed to be king, even though he wasn't as impressive as his brothers. The Lord had said, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Or consider Jesus' words that we need to be more concerned with what can happen to our soul than what can happen to our body (Luke 12:4-7).

Today's verses bring the wisdom of Proverbs into our life of prayer. Paul could have prayed for all kinds of external things, including freedom from his prison cell (see Ephesians 6:20). But instead he prays that God will strengthen his readers with power in their "inner being," with the goal that Christ will live in their hearts. When we have God's strength "on the inside," we can handle whatever life throws our way "on the outside."

That's what I want. I want to be wise, live wise, and have the person of wisdom in me. So in the morning when I get up, I pray this prayer of Paul, on my knees. It's a way to remind myself about priorities. And it's especially a way to ask God for his help in making my life "an inside job."