Funnel or Fountain?

Am I a Funnel?

Lived from the outside in, our lives operate much like a funnel, gathering and consuming life from others around us in hopes of finding our identity through the acceptance, worth, and belonging the world provides.  This is the natural way human beings live in our flesh – the part of us bent toward self.  Either consciously or unconsciously, we consider life through the lens of “how is it affecting me?”

In doing so, the apex of the funnel (our identity defined by the world) is yearning for the things of this world to satisfy our soul needs and provide meaning to our lives.  And when they don’t, we either seek for more or better (pride), or we succumb to self-absorption and compulsivity (shame).  God did not create us to live this way.

Or Am I a Fountain?

Lived from the inside out, our lives operate much like a fountain, giving life to everyone and everything around us, seeking to partner with God in meeting our “neighbor’s” needs of body, soul, and spirit.  We become a giver of belonging, worth, and acceptance of others.  This is the natural way of living a life submitted to the spirit of Jesus within us – the nature focused on sharing the love of Jesus with others.  Our purpose is defined by the question, “How can I be a giver of the love and hope of Jesus to those around me?”

Now the apex of the funnel (our identity in Christ) finds meaning and purpose through being God’s hands and feet, bringing living water to those around us – both near and far (see John 4:14).  When we live in this way, we discover the fruit of God’s presence blossoming in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  This is what God created us for!

Getting to The Inside

Human beings have a natural bent towards self.  The result is, we place our identity, worth, and purpose in the hands of people, places, and things in the world around us.  For certain, many are appealing to our humanness and seem to promise satisfaction to our souls.  Nonetheless, we must learn that to place our hope in anyone or anything that can potentially fail us or leave us will ultimately end in hurt and disappointment.

We can’t live from the inside if we’re not there.  We can’t lead a person to places we’ve not reached on our own transformational journey.  Attempting to present the depth and maturity inherent to an inside-out life when having stayed only in the shallow end of the pool, is analogous to attempting to display spiritual fruit in our life without our roots being solidly planted in the spirit of God.

Which We Choose Will Determine Our Purpose in Life

Are you a life-consuming funnel, living from the outside in?  Or are you a life-giving fountain, living from the inside out?

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Soul health and spiritual maturity cannot be separated.  Our counselors are ordained Christian ministers as well as certified and licensed Christian counselors.  We are able to help you experience freedom from shame, anxiety, depression, or marriage / relationship conflict with methods that are purely Christ-centered.  Please click on this link to learn much more about how our CHRISTIAN COUNSELING can help you become a more authentic follower of Christ, and help you find freedom from identity dependence.

Life Training offers convenient sessions at our office in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as online counseling via Zoom or FaceTime.  Our non-profit counseling practice has an outstanding track record for over a decade helping men and women, individuals and couples who are ready to move beyond anxiety, depression, and conflicts in marriage or other relationships find hope and healing in their lives.  Contact us today at 502-717-5433, or by email at drdave@lifetrainingcounseling.org