Sharpened Together - Week 20

Key Scripture: 
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
“A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

I’ve been spending some time in Proverbs recently, and as I was reading chapter 17, this verse really stood out to me! It was like it hit me in the face harder than what Jared Howlett hits on the octopong table… and that’s pretty aggressive if I say so myself! ?

There are so many ways I have reflected upon this verse. But the more I reflected, I found myself thinking about it holistically. Who we are and what we’re made up of: body, soul, and spirit.

Body: Our physical being, including our senses.
Soul: Our mind, will, emotions, and personality. The parts of us you can’t see but definitely experience.
Spirit: The deepest part of who we are. Where we connect with God through the Holy Spirit.

There’s no doubt that a cheerful heart is good medicine. God designed us to experience joy (John 15:11). Joy can reduce stress, strengthen relationships, lift our emotions, and even have a positive impact on our physical health. But what the Lord really convicted me of wasn’t whether I had joy, it was where I was looking for it.

What was fuelling my cheerful heart? What was I relying on to lift my mood or make me feel satisfied?

For me, it can be watching the Geelong Cats win on the weekend, playing a game of basketball, catching up with mates, scrolling social media, ticking things off my to-do list, or simply keeping myself busy.

None of those things are wrong. In fact, one of my favourite memories is still blocking Az’s shot at Men’s Camp 2025 on the basketball court! #notinmyhouse

The problem isn’t enjoying those things.
The problem is when they become the place I look to for joy instead of God. And recently, I’ve realised it’s possible to have plenty of banter, plenty of fun, yet still have a dry spirit. That’s what challenged me about the second half of this proverb: “A crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Sometimes we read that and immediately think about suffering, disappointment, or grief. Those things certainly can crush our spirit and have for me recently too. I’m not sweeping those under the rug at all. But I also know, at times, my spirit was becoming dry simply because I had neglected it.

I’d spent hours on Kayo but only minutes in God’s Word.
I’d refreshed my social media feeds more than what I had refreshed my heart in prayer.
I was feeding my body and entertaining my soul while quietly starving my spirit.

But the scariest part was, that I didn’t notice it straight away.

As men, we can keep functioning. We can keep working, serving, providing, and even smiling. But underneath it all, our spirit can slowly begin to dry up because we’ve drifted from the very One who gives us life. The place where we find true joy!

As we spend time in prayer and fasting this month, perhaps God isn’t only asking us to give something up. Maybe He’s asking us to make space. To lay down the things we’ve unintentionally been relying on for joy so we can rediscover that our greatest satisfaction is found in Him.

Maybe it’s fasting social media or the constant noise of podcasts or music.
Or like me, maybe it’s sport for a season or the endless scrolling before bed!

Whatever it is, don’t just remove it… replace it.
Replace it with time in God’s Word.
Replace it with prayer.
Replace it with sitting quietly in His presence.
Because nothing can and ever will satisfy our spirit like Jesus can.

Reflect
- What has been taking the place that only Jesus should occupy?
- If someone looked at my week, would they say I’ve been feeding my spirit or starving it?
- During this season of prayer and fasting, what is one thing I could lay down so I can make more room for God?

Prayer
Father, thank You that You are the source of true joy. Forgive me for the times I’ve looked to other things to satisfy what only You can. Reveal anything that has been quietly taking Your place in my heart. As I pray and fast, help me to make room for more of You. Refresh my spirit through Your Word, deepen my relationship with You, and remind me that lasting joy is found in Your presence alone. May my body, soul, and spirit be shaped by You each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I’ll leave you with Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Maybe that’s the best test of all. If what fuels our joy fits through that filter, we’ll find ourselves with a body, soul and spirit that is alive, healthy, and deeply rooted in Christ.