Spiritual reflection:
A cheerful spirit gives strength even during sickness. But you can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.
Proverbs 18:14 NIrV
Spiritual questions:
- How would you describe the “cheerful spirit” which gives strength?
- How would you describe the “broken spirit” which saps our strength?
- What is the condition, health, and wellness level of your spirit?
Spiritual prayer:
The goal of this prayer is to identify and share with God the areas of your life where you have a “cheerful spirit,” and those areas where you have a “broken spirit.” The areas where you have a “cheerful spirit” are likely to reflect your strengths, while those areas where you have a “broken spirit” are reflective of weakness.
Take time to express gratitude for those areas of cheerfulness and strength. Afterward, take time to be grateful for the ability to see your areas of brokenness, and then ask God to help you turn these areas of brokenness into strengths.
Spiritual commitment:
Naomi is one of the rare individuals in scripture who demonstrates the “Deep Humility” necessary to see and admit the depth of her brokenness. The commitment of this quiet time is to read the book of Ruth, and discover the strength of Naomi, which allowed her to experience “Deep Brokenness,” and by relying on God “make her life new again” (Ruth 4:15 NIrV).
Spiritual conversation:
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— [12] that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 1:11-12 NIV
Now that you have embraced the “Deep Humility” necessary to admit your weakness, and by imitating Naomi found the strength to make your life new again, it is time to help someone else. Upon completion of this quiet time seek out one of your close circle of friends, and share your experience with the goal of strengthening them in their weak places.
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As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.
As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.
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