Proverbs 17: King James Bible
A Broken Spirit – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter seventeen, Verse 22
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Daily Inspiration from These Verses – A Broken Spirit
Here again, as we’ve so often seen, the Lord giving a connection between the heart and spirit. We’ve covered a very similar verse back in Proverbs 15, in a devotional called A Merry Heart.
Who can bear a broken spirit? Who can withstand the long term effects that it has on the mind, the body, and actions?
In my opinion, if you want to see a prolonged effect of what a broken spirit can do, watch a few episodes of a show that talks about hoarders. I’d say about 75% of the time, people who don’t have it in them to do things that to us, come naturally or with ease, are suffering from a broken spirit.
Call it depression, oppression; throw a clinical name on it, some doctors or psychiatrists, and include a bunch of pills. There is the world’s way of “helping.” Sometimes these are methods that work out okay with great results. I don’t mean to disparage anyone that has sought treatment of some kind for whatever the issue is.
But no matter the diagnosis, it’s still a broken spirit. I only used that particular issue as an example, not the end all. There are a multitude of things that can transpire through time, while harboring a broken spirit.
It is always amazing to me, just how much the Lord put himself through, in order to have experienced all kinds of things that we don’t even think about. Nobody knows what a broken spirit feels like as Jesus does.
His Apostles abandoned him after being betrayed, the people he loved scourged and beat him into an unrecognizable condition. He was mocked, spit upon, humiliated, but these things are only the beginning.
The Father, who had been constantly by his side and in constant communication with Jesus, would not stick by Jesus as he was made to be sin. How much more could his spirit have broken, as he yelled out, “Father, why hast thou forsaken me?”
I don’t care how bad we think we have it, Jesus suffered to such an extent, that he sweat blood due to the stress of knowing what was coming, before anyone laid a hand on him. And yet he followed through with his task anyways.
Even now, around 2,000 years after the fact, man still mocks and spits on him in one way or another. This world sees to it to continue to do so until the Father has had enough. And personally, I believe that his patience is beginning to grow thin.
So why would I bring this up? Well, because this is one of my favorite methods to use, to drag myself out of either a pity party due to unsavory things going on in life, or allowing a broken spirit to rob me of the joy of the Lord.
After all, why wouldn’t the world and it’s boss (Satan) do the utmost to rob you of the joy of the Lord? After all, the joy of the Lord is our strength! When we’re suffering a broken spirit, we tend not to feel strong do we? No.
Nehemiah 8: King James Bible
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
That’s about the time where I look at the sky and say, “Stick a fork in me Lord, I’m done!” But that’s where I’m reminded to be still and know that he is God. He is God, not me. He is God, not what’s breaking my spirit. He is God, and has suffered far greater pains and losses than I ever will, or can even conceive.
He is God, and he went through all of that for me. He is God, and he went through all of that for you. And do you know what’s included in the many things that he did for us throughout the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?
He gave us access to his own personal joy! We need only seek him out for it!
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 13: King James Bible
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 25: King James Bible
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
John 15: King James Bible
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16: King James Bible
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
John 16: King James Bible
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Romans 5: King James Bible
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 14: King James Bible
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15: King James Bible
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for everything that you’ve done for us. May we be constantly reminded, of all the things that you’ve been through, and all of the things that the Lord Jesus has been through on our behalf. Help us to always stay mindful of your grace, and your Word. Keep us always mindful of your presence, and we ask that you fill us with your joy. Not the joy as is defined by the world, but as defined by you in your Word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Do you suffer a broken spirit?