Sustainable Living

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.