The health of the human spirit

We often think about our health; how to keep our bodies healthy, and our minds healthy. There have been many teachings on how to think positive thoughts, to think on what’s good. But little has been said about the human spirit. For the most part, we seldom think about the fact that our spirits can be unhealthy. Today’s lesson is on keeping our spirit healthy.


God’s Word tells us about the human spirit. Perverseness (viciousness, distortion) comes from a breach, or weak spot in our spirits (Prov 15:4). One of those breaches can be hastiness, which will lead to lack of self-control and promotion of unsoundness (Prov 14:29). Sorrow can also cause a break in the spirit and lead to a broken heart, one which lacks hope (Prov 15:13). If a man has a proud or “haughty” spirit he cannot sustain good in his life, but will sabotage it and fall into ruin (Prov 16:18). These are symptoms of when a man’s spirit wants to be in control of life, and when he will not let go of life’s pains. A man who wants to be in control will have a focus on himself.

The Lord considers that a man who rules his spirit is better than one who conquers a city (Prov 16:32). If a man is willing to rule over his spirit he is humble, and contrite, not insisting on self-control. His focus is not on himself, therefore his spirit will heal if it is wounded. When our spirit is healthy it will sustain us in physical infirmity also (Prov 18:14).

Solomon spoke about the vexation of the human spirit when he wrote about the vanity of life in Ecclesiastes. Our spirit can feel inward pain over the lack of true meaning in life. Paul also wrote about the vexation he felt when he could not control his sinful nature (Rom 7). It is in Paul’s writings that we find the answer to this spiritual pain. He writes;

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. . . . But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (Rom 8:9-10) Paul lost his spirit’s vexation when he allowed the Holy Spirit to control Him, and thereby breathe righteousness into his own spirit. In fact, when our spirit knows the Righteous One and communicates with Him, spirit to Spirit, our spirit becomes fully functioning in the manner for which God designed it. Our focus shifts from self-focus to God-focus, and we are not satisfied by what this world has to offer . . . we want what God has to offer.

The human spirit is called the “candle” of the Lord and searches our hearts (Prov 20:27; 1 Cor 2:11). God likes to talk to us, Spirit to spirit, about our thoughts and emotions. Daily we chose whether we will listen to Him, and yield control to the Lord, or keep control for ourselves.

Those who communicate with the Holy Spirit by their own spirit find out that they are sons of God (Rom 8:16), thereby receiving their true identity. God gave us His Spirit so that we could “understand what is freely given us.” (1 Cor 2:12). And of course, doing what is righteous brings health to our spirit.

Perhaps some of you have been wounded in your spirits and have yet to overcome the pain that resides there. Or perhaps there is a different kind of breach in your spirit.  I want to encourage you to listen to the Author of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, whom, if you have received Him, resides in your own spirit. He will bring you back to health through obedience to His leading. His righteousness will then live in you, and you will overcome. In Him is truth and nurture, the opposite of perversity. Listen to Him today as One worthy of control, and walk into healing, God-focus, and a healthy human spirit. You will treasure the life of your own spirit when you can trust that it hears and wants to obey the leading of the Lord. Amen.