From The Inside Out

I read our daily bread today (1-23-19) and it got me to thinking how we spend all this time and effort on our struggle to stop doing, saying and even thinking things we shouldn't. Even effort on trying to control our anger as well as other emotions. But isn't that like painting a water stain in the house without fixing the roof leak. Or constantly cleaning oil spots on the driveway without fixing the drip on the car. 
Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-26 "“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
The solution is simple, spend all our time and effort getting to know Jesus better. Spend more time praying, and reading His word, that starts changing us on the inside, the source of our issues then we see all those things we were fighting start dropping out of our lives. It's like the line in How He Loves, "all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory". When we stay focused on Him, everything else takes care of itself! Stay Blessed PJ