Proverbs 18:14 -
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can
bear?
In today’s world, the education of our
minds and
the fitness of our bodies are considered very important, and, of
course, they are. However, in the rush to gain more knowledge, and in the push
to exercise and train our bodies, we have forgotten an essential element of our
being and make-up and that is the spirit of a person.
The spirit is the inner core of a person;
where God and man intersect and interact. The spirit is the deepest part of
man, in which, motives, purposes and intentions gestate and develop. It is the
driving force within every person; that which keeps one going.
This aspect of our being must be
re-emphasized if we are going to mature spiritually. Having a strong mind and
body is certainly desirable and good, but behind it all, must be a strong
spirit. God breathed life into His Words and had them written down to make them
accessible for all. Jesus said that we cannot live on natural food alone, but
we must have the Word of God to live; indeed, it is spiritual food, which, when
ingested, produces spiritual energy and strength. If we do not eat for days,
our bodies will get weaker and will not have the energy to function properly.
The same is true spiritually; if we want a strong spirit, we must read and
ingest the Word of God on a regular basis; the more consistent, the better.
If we maintain the health and strength of
our spirit, then we can expect to be sustained through any trial of infirmity
or sickness. To be sustained implies that we would have everything that we need,
not only to come through the sickness but, to overcome it. Much is said these
days about sustainable living, which means that we must manage all of our
resources and use them wisely ensuring that we have lasting reserves and the continued
wherewithal, not only to survive but also, to thrive.
We are responsible to keep our bodies fit by
maintaining a system of proper diet, exercise and rest. In the same way, and
maybe, even more importantly, we must maintain a daily regimen of reading,
meditation and prayer. This assures us of spiritual fitness and inner wellbeing.
Our spirit must be nourished and developed. Consistent Bible reading ensures an
overall and balanced perspective that enables us to understand what God desires
for our life and how He views our circumstances. Meditation, which is a lost
art in today’s noisy and busy world, must be given a priority place in our
lives. What a pleasure it is to take time to quietly ponder and slowly mull
over the Word, just like a cow would chew grass, until all the nutrients are
derived from it. As we do this our spirit is fed, releasing a creative energy
of faith.
If you are facing an illness, especially
one that is chronic and life-threatening, the tendency is to panic and hastily
look for solutions. Scripture encourages us to respond differently; to slow
down and be still. Listen for the voice of your Father, who resides within you.
He is the Great Physician; He is near; He is here, and He has the solution.
Meditate on His words, for they are spirit and life; whisper them to yourself;
let your spirit be nourished, built up and strengthened. As you do this, you
will be sensitized to His voice and He will give you the direction you need. He
will sustain you through the dark trial. He will empower you with courage. He
will fill you with joy, and by this simple process alone, you will benefit; you
will have drawn near to the Healer, in whose presence is life-changing power.
