Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

God saves us in order to transform us into His image.  His main work is done in  us.  Without the inner transformation, outer works can still be done, but the same types of outer works can be done by non-Christians, too.   Visiting the sick in the hospital, taking meals to the homebound, even singing in the church choir can all be done without the Spirit of Christ in us. What is to make us different, as aliens in this world, is the heart work that God does in our hearts. The strongholds that Satan tries to establish are after our hearts.  If he can get to our emotions through sin, then Christ's life cannot live fully in our hearts.  Satan wants us to glorify and live by our emotions instead of relying on the power of God in us. When Jesus reigns in our hearts, we become more sensitive to Him, His Spirit, His will, His voice so that we can do His  works in the world, not just generic "good works." We forgive others quickly out of His life in us. We do not gossip because it

God is at work in the world.  He has many ways that He gets His work done.  God does not "need" our help.  God is God! But one of the way He chooses to accomplish His will on the earth is through us.  Yes, us!  Weak, fallible, messed up humans.   God partners with us to get His work done in the world. Now His work is not only outer accomplishments.  Does He want us to feed the poor, heal the sick, feed His sheep, and so on?  Yes. But there is a deeper work that God is about doing: heart work. God is in the process of transforming our hearts so that we may glorify Him.  We have nothing to offer in and of ourselves.  When we are born again, at least we have a chance!  How?  It is through the supernatural power and work of the Holy Spirit that resides in us who gets all the glory, all the credit, for any holy work that we do, outer and inner. I have seen and learned that the outer work is the easier of the two.  People can pretty much make their minds up to go about doing good t