Proverbs 3:8 “it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones”
I was covered in mud, sweating, and feeling the resistance in my legs as we walked mile after mile through the toughest country imaginable. At one point as I reached the summit of a slow-burn rise, I stopped to admire the view across the virgin rainforest. As I gathered my breath and wiped the continual sweat from my eyes, I heard myself say to myself, “I was made for this”. I felt like I was a four-wheel-drive that had just discovered off-road driving.
Day after day we made our way through the forest and what I would call jungle. At every village we would stop and have a church service, usually sleepover in our hammocks, crowded in side by side in tiny wooden homes. I had never felt so alive. We would rise at 4 am, and sit at the door as the mist lifted from the surrounding mountain. Talking in hushed voices, enjoying what was the coolest part of the day, preparing our bodies and spirits for what God may have for us this day.
The smell of early morning smoke from the clay oven fires being rebirthed, the anticipation of coffee from local freshly mortared roasted beans, the scorch marks on strewn sheets of corrugated iron testifying to the universal appeal of coffee. Raggedy skinny dogs, half-dressed, pulling at bits of refuse strewn under stilt raised homes. Fresh tortillas wrapped round beans for breakfast. All this was home, and I was welcome here.
KNOWLEDGE
The attitude and habits developed through obedience to 3:7 have a paycheque in their back pocket. What is translated in the ESV as “it will be” has a literal translation of “I am” – I am will be healing…… I am being the self-designation of our covenant-keeping, and relational God [Yahweh]. As we trust God each day, as we acknowledge God in each of our ways, and as we listen to all that he says, he has his presence with us and so he brings strength to the centre of our being.
When we are spiritually strong, we can walk through every challenge, every situation, and every opportunity. That’s not the case if we are solely financially strong, or physically strong, or even emotionally strong – none of these is quite enough in every situation – but spiritual strength is like a never-ending river of love, peace and joy.
The centre of our being is good, the place we find strength has a deep eternal well to draw from, even to the marrow of our bones we have health and wellness. Can you imagine this picture of yourself, kneeling, still before God, arms raised, joy flooding your soul, peace dripping from you with tears of joy, no matter the season, no matter the landscape of your life, no matter the pressing of the world. There you are, safe, well, at peace in the middle of the battle.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word I love here is “refreshment” – which is “siqquy” in Hebrew. This unique word has two mentions in the Old Testament, translated as “refreshment” and “my drink” (Hos 2:5). For Proverbs 3:78 there is the sense of a “nourishing drink” that restores the strength of spirit and brings new strength after tough seasons.
WISDOM: do the seasons of life cause you to flourish or flounder?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Discipline – you cant help yourself but bring order into situations, helping people break down life goals into manageable steps. Don’t make the process into a prison.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [Yahweh is your health and the centre of your strength, nourishing your whole body with vigour and strength.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to position myself to receive all you have for me. Thank you.
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Thanks pastor Allan. It was such a beautiful share. I love that it is our spiritual strength that keep us going when there is chaos and challenges.
Great Ps Allan. Thank you for the reminder that we can do all things when when we are spiritually strong and and can face any challenge. That he continually renews and refreshes us . He is our source.
Amen. Spiritual strength is what sustains us through all seasons.
A beautiful message to start the day with. To be able to draw Spiritual strength from our Father is so comforting. It is a haven of peace and joy in good seasons, balm to our bruised spirit in tough seasons. We need to have absolute trust in Him in every season.
Thank you, Pastor Allan.
Amen. God is my health and the center of my health. I love Him, He is my Rock (Psalm 18:2)
Thanks for beautfully sharing your insights, Ps Allan. They are light shining in the darkness right now. I pray that more people will be reached by this.
Good morning. It is so so beautiful message….so content and so true….for me yes and amen for each statement you make. Philippians 4:7 and 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.
I am so blessed having the opportunity to read, learn and meditate all the Psalm and your story here. Your journey of faith and life have been inspiring all of us and echoing with our journey of faith too. His faithfulness, mercy, Grace and favor has been following us for the days of our life. Amen
Deciding not to be wise in my own eyes and Fearing the Lord will be Health to my flesh and strength to my bones Amen 🙏🏻
There is a fundamental principle here to accept living with The Lord as head of my life. Literally to give Him authority over my thoughts , and allow him to lead my soul where wisdom comes from and understanding to fear him is to trust him and know him for ALL I NEED ! Physically , emotionally and spiritually. It is a gift from the giver of life for health and strength all my days for ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE.
What a wonderful Father He is
Allan the journey is so humbling and the favour is beyond comprehending . I love this story you shared in the jungle living simply appreciating the burn you knew you were made for. Beautiful!
Beautiful message to start the week off. God provides all our needs in whatever season we are in.
Good morning
Your question- do the seasons of life cause you to flourish or flounder? Helped me see that no matter the season albeit a mountain top experience or the deepest valley we are designed to flourish. God has fashioned our lives so that He is our source ALL the time. If we stay connected to Him we will always flourish. From deep within us Comes the bountiful supply of all He is.
Thank you for today’s insights.
“ When we are spiritually strong, we can walk through every challenge, every situation, and every opportunity…no matter the landscape of your life, no matter the pressing of the world. There you are, safe, well, at peace in the middle of the battle.”
This really spoke to me this morning. How wonderful it is to know that when I willingly choose every to put The Lord first in my life, to fix my mind, thoughts and attention on Him, leaning in to hear His voice and heart beat, I will always come through, not just challenges but every situation and circumstance in life. The song What a Friend I have in Jesus comes to mind.
Also discipline is my top strength and I can personally testify to the fact that if I’m not mindful I can make process a prison, get so carried away with the doing and achieving the desired outcome that I miss the enjoyment of all the small moments it took to get there. Hurrying from one moment to the next, all to get to the end of the day having achieved all, but without being able to say I enjoyed the day or the journey.
Thank you Pastor Allan. Beautiful truth for life.
Spiritual strength in Christ helps us to walk through tough seasons,knowing we are not alone in a battle.
But his strength moulds us and sustains us through the journey where we see his mighty hand on our lives, transforming us and making us stronger spiritually, emotionally and mentally .
Thank you pastor Allan
The song comes to mind, He’s all I need! I can honestly say since coming to Christ some decades ago I have discovered the truth of He is all I need! Be it healing, provision, strength, you name it, my God is the provider of them all. Yes, obviously in life we don’t always think that way but when we sit back and reflect on all He has done in our lives, in my life, I can honestly and thankfully say the truth that He is all I need. As I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be added to me! Thank you Jesus!
Another great message to ponder on thank you Pastor Allan!!
Such incredible words of wisdom in teaching me that regardless of whether I am physically emotionally or financially strong & at my best it is never enough without having been filled with God’s strength for the journey. He is my only source of everything I currently & will ever need in the good & hard seasons to overcome & walk in joy peace & love. How amazing to be a child of the living God & to have access to His vast bountiful supply of riches to do life well & enjoy my journey in serving Him & others. In hiding in Him I can find healing to my flesh & refreshment to my bones because He brings the ultimate peace to live free of the cares of this world.
Another great message to ponder on thank you Pastor Allan!!
Such incredible words of wisdom in teaching me that regardless of whether I am physically emotionally or financially strong & at my best it is never enough without having been filled with God’s strength for the journey. He is my only source of everything I currently & will ever need in the good & hard seasons to overcome & walk in joy peace & love. How amazing to be a child of the living God & to have access to His vast bountiful supply of His riches to do life well & enjoy our journey in serving Him & others.
You’ve lived a life Allan!! Very inspiring.
‘safe, well, at peace in the middle of the battle.‘ beautiful words to try to live by.
The closer I stay to God the more his strength, wisdom and life with flow through me. When I stray there is a ditch between us that stops the flow…. I cause myself so many problems !
Thank you Ps Allan.
So much wisdom and so encouraging.
I love this, But spiritual strength is like a never ending river of love, peace and joy.