Proverbs 18:14 – “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who
can bear a broken spirit?”
This proverb has to do with the spirit inside of us. What goes on inside of you is infinitely more important than what goes on outside of you. If your body is sick but your spirit is strong, you will be sustained. But if your body is well and your spirit is sick, that is a different matter altogether. This proverb says, “…who can bear (lift, raise up) a broken spirit?” Therefore, it is imperative that we maintain a healthy spirit. How can we do that? Let’s look to the word of God for some answers.
1. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind” – Ephesians 4:23. Your spirit possesses the ability to be renewed and this comes through your thoughts. Have you ever had thoughts that “pull you down?” Sure you have; we all have. You need to engage in thoughts that will renew you. Just reading this devotional today is renewing your mind. I really want to encourage you to read the word of God daily. The One Year Bible is a great way to accomplish this. You will be inculcating your thoughts with a continual message of renewal, which will strengthen your spirit.
2. “For they refreshed my spirit” – 1 Corinthians 16:18. Surround yourself with the right people. Mark the individuals who annoy you, control you, provoke you, and cause you to be anxious. Limit your interaction with them as much as possible and surround yourself, as Paul did, with people who will refresh you and soothe you.
3. “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed” – Psalm 77:3. I am trying to come up with something positive that comes from complaining and I am having a hard time. Notice the effect of complaining in the psalm…an overwhelmed spirit. When things don’t go your way and omething happens you don’t like, instead of complaining about it, why not pray about it? If you complain about it you’ll be overwhelmed. If you pray about it you’ll be relieved and uplifted.
4. “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit; do not hasten in your spirit to be angry” – Ecclesiastes 7:8,9. Patience is a must in order to maintain a strong spirit. When we are not patient it can lead us to become angry, which has all kinds of negative fallout. Wait…don’t respond too quickly, don’t talk too swiftly, and don’t decide too rashly.
5. “The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” – Isaiah 61:3. This verse implies an existing condition of a spirit of heaviness. There can be a supernatural exchange that takes place inside of you when you enter the realm of praise. Heaviness of spirit will give way to the “side effects” of praise. Your outlook will change. God will intervene for He inhabits the praises of His people. You will experience a “lifting up” that will energize you and sustain you through any difficulty.
These keys to maintaining a healthy spirit are vital to improving your quality of life. Pass them on to others…they may need a boost today.
What other kinds of things “lift” you up when your spirit is broken? Reading a book? Getting alone? Going for a walk? Exercise? Getting with friends or family? Just chillin’?